6 *- I ^ ~ 

> L 



^ 



MEETING -HOVSE-iy^S 
J 



-^ 




H I STORY 



OF THE 



TOWN OF BEDFORD, 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS, 



EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1891. 



EMIiRACING 

An Account of Indian Claims and TRouBbus; Colonial Grants; Sketches of its 

Hekoks ; ITS Fakt in the Stuuggle for Independence and the War 

FOR Nationality; its 15ui;ial Grounds and Epitaphs; 

ITS Industrial Su(('.i:ss. and a Record of 

ITS Whole I'rogijess. 



GENEALOGICAL JtKGISTKE OF OLD FAMILIES. 



BY ABRAM ENGLISH BROWN, 



Ai'Tiiou OF TiiK irrs'L'oitY OF v\n-: FIRST s.vmiATn scnooi. of hfdford. 



i?llustratcli. 



• Tlie kindly spot, the friendly town, where every one is known, 
And not a face in all the place, but partly seems my own." 



' "Write this for n. memorial in a book." — Kxodits xvii. 14. 



H E D F O K D : 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

ISIJL 






Cepyriglit, 1890. All rights reserved by tbe Author. 




Cc^ 



^>^e2<?^/ 



□ EEIICATIDN, 



TO THK MElMdKY OK 

3ctnatl)an Bacon, 

ANI) HIS ASSOCIATES 1 .\ THE WOKK (IE IXCOUl'ORATION, 
THIS VOLVMK IS GRATEFULLY IXS(::RIBED BY 

THE xVUTHOn. 



1 have coiisiilereil the days i)f oUl, the years of ancient times." — Ps. Ixxvii. 



* The fathers sleep, but men remain 

As true and wise ami brave as they ; 
Wliy count the loss without the gain ? 
The best is that wr have to-»lay.'* 

Whittikk. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER. 




I. 


— E.VKJA' Grants, etc. 


II. 


— Organization. 


III. 


— Ecclesiastical. 


IV. 


— Ecclesiastical. 


V. 


— Ecclesiastical. 


VI. 


— Schools and Libraries. 


VII. 


MlHTAKY. 


VIII. 


INflLlTAltY. 


IX. 


illLITARV. 


X. 


MiLITAliY. 


XL 


— Financial Troubles. 


XII. 


— Charity. 


XIJI. 


— Bi;r,i.\L (htouNDS. 


XIV. 


HiCHWAYS. 


XV. 


— Sta(;es and Tost Office 


XVI. 


— Watercourses. 


XVII. 


— Miscellaneous. 


XVIII. 


— ENFOItCEMENT OF LaW. 


XIX. 


— Noted Occasions. 


XX. 


ToPO(i]tArHICAL. 


XXI. 


— Tax Collecting. 



CHAPTKU. 

XXII. 
XXIII. 
XXIV. 

XXV. 
XXVI. 

XXVII. 

XXVIII. 

XXIX. 

XXX. 

XXXI. 

XXXII. 
XXXIII. 
XXXIV. 

XXXV. 



-Public Grounds. 
-The Ancient Meeting House. 
-Later Meeting Houses. 
-Professional Men. 

- Representatives to the General 

Court. 

- Eakly' Customs. 

- Records. 

- Individual JIilitary Service in 

Early Wars. 
-Individual Service in Civil War. 

- PiEDFOiiD Woman's Experience. 

- ]\I o t 11 E R Town o e 1 ! e d f o i; o . 
-Epitaphs. 

- Homesteads. 

- Clei;gymen. 



SECTION II. 
Genealo(.ical and Biographical. 



PREFACE. 



This volume is the outcome of a contract with the publishers of the History of Middlesex 
County to prepare a sketch of liedford for that work, and of a series of papers read at the request 
of the citizens in public at different times. 

Any seeming disconnection of sulijects is due to the fact of the hrst twenty chapters having 
been prepared for the above-named worlc, and printed without regard to issuing a town history. 

It is to be regrettfnl that a volume of this character had not been completed at an earlier 
period and by other and abler hands. Two sons of the town, representatives of a generation ear- 
lier, began tlie work, but died before its completion. Such fragmentary notes of the late John W. 
Simonds as have been preserved have been at our command, but we have not had access to the 
more extended manuscripts of the late Josiah A. Stearns. 

Various reasons have conspired to lead us to issue this volume. First, the rapidly thinning 
ranks of those who have stood as oracles, beyond the allotted age of man : since the preparation 
of this volume began, several aged people, who had treasured up a great store of anecdotes and 
incidents, have passed away, anil with others the ear has grown dull, the eye dim, and the under- 
standing cloudcil. In the antieiiiation of these changes we garnered some sheaves from their 
store-houses, aiul record them as precious memorials. 

Another impelling motive is the imperative demand of the day for each town, however small, 
to have its annals in printed form, whereby its own people nuiy l)e benefited, and by exchange of 
volumes, towns may become familiar with the inner workings of one another. A town may legally 
appropriate money for gathering and ])reserving its annals, but we have felt that other pressing 
demands must i)ut the day far off when this town could reasonably he expected to make an ade- 
quate appropriation for a town history; lienee we liave endeavored to perform this service as best 
we could, without burdening any one. 

We are liai)py to acknmvledge miu-h valuable assistance from many living sons and daughters 
of the town, without which we could not have done the work. We reluctantly forbear mentioning 
any, lest we miglit inadvertently omit some. T!u)se who have at our request prejjared special arti- 
cles are credited with their lalior of love in the chapters where their contributions are found. 

Tlirongh the generous response of families to our invitation, the large collection of illustra- 
tions is added to the work, and the volume made doubly attractive and valuable. 

Our ])rimary object has been to make the book correct and readable. We have preferred not 
to weary the reader with our authorities, but have regarded the dates as sufficient guides to state, 
town and church records, from which we have necessarily gleaned freely. 

Finally, this brief volume is submitted, with its many imperfections, to the people of whom 
it treats, trusting that they will excuse all errors and omissions, and exercise that degree of char- 
ity which circumstances demand. 

ABRAM ENGLISH BEOWN. 



' Few towii liistorit'S wiU ever be written a seconit time, the p.iius are too great and the praise too little."— N. A. Review. 



PLAN OF BEDFORD. 



EXPLANATIONS. 



I. Gov. John Winthrop Farm, 1638. 

II. Lieut.-Gov. Diulley Farm. 1638. 

III. Gov. John Wintlii-op Meadow, 1639. 

IV. Thomas Oakes Farm, 1649-1652. 
V. Ed\\'ara Oakes Farm, 1649-1652. 

VI. Daniel Gookin Grant, 1649. 

VII. Kev. Mr. Mitchel Grant, 1652. 

VIII. i^cjuaclron south of Oakes Farm, divided, 
1707. 

IX. Edwartl Stearns Farm added, 1766. 



4. Obed Abbott. 

9. Bacon's Mill (later Fitch). 

7. Michael Bacon. 

2. Brother Eo(>ks. 

15. Bowman (later Eobinson). 

18. Meeting House. 

11. Eleazer Davis. 

28. Stephen Davis. 

27. Benjamin Farley. 



19. Joseph Fassett (later Wm. Page). 
17. Patrick Fassett. 

29. Fawn Lake (Bedford Springs). 
3. Samuel Fitch. 

12. Zachariah Fitch. 

23. Samuel Hartwell. 

24. William Hartwell. 
1. Josiah Hill. 

22. Col. Timothy Jones. 

13. Benjamin Kidder (later Jeremiah Fitch). 

5. Job La.ue. 

8. Hugh Maxwell (plater Butterlield). 

26. Checker (later Taylor, later Mead). 

25. Dea. Nathaniel Merriam. 
21. John Moore. 

16. Nathaniel Page. 

14. Dea. Israel Putnam. 

30. Stearns' Mill (later Hobbs'). 

6. Capt. Jonathan Wilson. 

10. Wilson's Mill (later Staples'). 

20. Woolley (later Henry Woods). - 



The author and the public are indebted to Mv. 
Charles W. Jenks for the foUowiiiij Plan. 

This Plan is drawn, after comiiarison of tlie Plan 
of Town of IJedford by Stephen Davi.s. about 1700, 
the Plan of Town of Bedford by Tlumipson Bai;on. 
17'.I4, both in the office of the Town Clerk of Bedford: 
the Plan of Town of Bedfonl, ITIM, thi' Plan of Town 
of Bedford by John G. Hale. 1S;J(), Ixith in the olHee 
of tlie Secretary of State; an old Plan of BilUuica by 
Danfortli, an old Plan of Bedford, botli in the posses- 
sion of the Mass. Historical Society in Boston ; Beers' 
Map of Middlesex County, lS7o : Hazen's History of 
Billcrica; U. S. Geolos;ieal Sxirvey, 1S''^<5 ; and many 
smaller local plan.s. 

The full black outline is from PiiUMuTs Plan of 17'.l4 



and Hale's Plan of 1S30. The dotted line shows 

the difference in Plan of Stephen Davis (1760 ?) 

The dotted lines — - show the location of 

various grants. The Winthrop Farm lines are from a 
plan in possession of A. 15. Cutler, Esq. The other 
lines are merely approximate, as the boundaries of 
the grants are irregulai- and difficult to determine. 

Thi' roads marked B are. plotted fmm the Bacon 
Plan of 1794. 

The jxiints marked D are from the Davis Plan of 
(1760 ?) 

The lloman numerals are used to designate the 
Grants. 

Tlie Arabic numerals show the location of the 
homesteads and points of interest. 







ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE 

Frontispiece. 

Plan of Town, 3 

Brother Kocks, C 

Old Parisli Meeting-House, 10 

Banner of Concord Fight, . . . . • 23 

Winthrop Deed, 34 

Bedford House, 40 

WilUamR. Hayden, 31. D., 48 

Jonathan Bacon, ,50 

Hannah Keed . . .52 

Meeting-House of Trinitarian Congregational Society, 57 

Bunyan's Cottage • . . 77 

The Emhanknient Promenade, Bedford, England, Ml 
Gravestone of Capt. Jonathan Willson, . . .91 

Old Oaken Bucket, 93 

Page Homestead, 95 

Benjamin F. Hartwell Home (South Bedford), . 97 

.Shawshine House, John Wehher Home, . . . 98 

The Stream and Mill, 99 

David Reed's Tavern Sign, 100 

Bedford Springs, 100 

Robinson House, 101 

Sampson House, 101 



Chestnut Avenue and Residence of Dudley L. Pick- 
man, 

The Stearns House, 

Union Scliool-House, . ■ 

Mineral Spring, 

Bedford Lumliei- and Manufacturing Co., 



SECTION n. 



The Author. 

Bellows-top Chaise, 

Jonathan Bacon Homestead, 

Corey's Bedford Stage Coach, 

Sage Arms, .... 

Stearns Arms, 

Elijah Wyiium .Stearns, 

Rev. Samuel Stearns, . 

Webber Cradle, . 

Residence of Wallace (i. Webbe: 

Lane Homestead, 

Abner Stearns" Commission, 



103 

104 
109 
110 
110 



42 
43 
45 
40 



AN HISTORICAL SKETCH 



01'" THE 



-^1 A 



TOWN OF BEDFORD. 



CHAPTER I. 



The Parent Toinu -Early Gramn and SeUlcmenU—Tlte Tico lirotltirs- 
Dm'hnrije of Indian (.7aimjt — dVirrwoHS — hicorpontlion. 



Bedford stands number twenty-five in tlic fifty- 
nine townships thus far incorporated in Middlesex 
County. It has a twin mate — Wcsiford. They were 
both incorporated by the General Court September 
•2:i. 172'.). 

Bedford was taken from Concord and Billcrica, but 
not until the parent towns had almost reached their 
first centennial. It then appears that the early his- 
tory of the territory known sw Bedford is included 
wiih that of the parental towns. Tliat which may be 
designated as the south and west part of the town 
was taken from Concord, and the greater part of the 
north and east was from Billerica. 

For nearly a century this territory comprised the 
outlying districts of Concord and Billerica. 

It represents a ])art of the first inland town of 
Massachusetts and includes portions of very early 
grants. 

A c(tliimendalilc pride prompts every true New 
Knglander to seek for Puritan descent, and to date 
the settlement of his locality from the landing of 
those grand worthies. Hence, in considering the 
origin of Bedford, it may be admissible to repeat a 
few familiar facts of historj-, with their dates. 

The Pilgrims landed in the year 1(320. The charter 
of Massachusetts was granted in 1629, by King 
Charles I. In 1630 came Winthrop and Dudley with 



fifteen hundred passengers. September 2, 1635, Mus- 
ketaquid (Concord) was granted to INIr. Buckley 

(Rev. Peter Buckley) and Merchant (Major 

Simon Willard), with other families. 

November, 1(337, the Court made grants to Gov- 
ernor Winthrop and the de|>uty, Mr. Dudley. In the 
followiuij; spring the grants were located, the original 
having been somewhat enlarged. 

In .Tune, 1641, "Shawshin is granted to Cambridge, 
p'vided they make it a village." 

The town of Bedford comprises a portion of the 
Musket.aquid grant, the whole of the Winthrop and 
a portion of theShawshine grant. 

The first house occupied by English, within the 
present limits of Bedford, alluded to in a report made 
in 1(342 as the "Shawshin house," proves that the 
first settlement was made here within twenty-two 
years after the landing of the Pilgrims. 

The nature of the land included in the above 
named grants is seen in reports and descriptions made 
about that time. Hubbard describes the Concord 
settlement as "right up in the woods," and Johnson 
as "in desert depths where wolves and bears abide," 
•and the journey to it he describes as " through watery 
swamps, through thickets where the hands were forced 
to make a way for the bodyes passage, and their 
feete clambering over the crossed trees, which when 
they missed, they sunk into an uncertaine bottome in 
water, and w.ade up to their knees, tumbling, some- 
times higher and sometimes lower." 

Of the grants made to the Governor and deputy 
(lieutenant), the whole of the former is included in 
the present limits of Bedford. Its western boundary 

5 



BEDFOKD. 



being Concord Kiver. The grants were located 
1638, May 2d, as follows : 

" It was ordered by the p'seut Court that.Tohn Win- 
thrope, Esq"^, the p'seiU Governo', shall have 1200 
acres of laud whereof, 1000 was formerly granted 
him. & Thomas Dudley, Eaq"^, the Deputy Governo', 
has 1000 acres granted to him by a former Courie, 
both of them about 6 miles from Concord, noith- 
wards ; the said Governo' to have his 1200 acres on 
the southerly side of two great stones standing neare 
together, close by the ry ver side that comes from Con- 
cord." 

The deputy's was north of it within the present 
limits of Billerica. Winthrop has given us an ac- 
count of the location of these farms in his journal. 

" Going down the river about four miles, they 
made choice of a place for one thousand acres for 
each of them. They offered each other the fifst 
choice, but because the deputy's was first granted, 
and himself had store of land already, the Governor 
yiebled him the first choic^. So, at the place where 
' the dejiuty's laud was to begin there were two great 
stones which they called the Two Brothers in re- 
membrance that they were brothers by their chil- 
drens marriage and did so brotherly agree, and for 
that a little creek near those stones was to part their 
lands." 

A little later the Court added two hundred acres to 
the Governor's part, and still later he received an 
additional portion of sixty acres of meadow " within 
a mile or two of his farme, beneath Concord, towards 
the southeast of the said farme." 

In 1636 Matthew Cradock expressed a desire to 
obtain a grant of two thousand acres " at a place 
called Shawe Shynn," and in 1637, August, " Capt. 
Jeanison & Leift. Willi : Spencer were ap[)ointed to 
viewe Shawshin & to consider whether it be fit for a 
plantation." The report was not made, however, 
until after it had been granted to Cambridge. The 
explorer's experience is thus described by Sewall as 
taken from Woburn records: "As they were engaged 
Nov. 9, 1640, shortly after their appointment, iu ex- 
ploring the land about the Shawshin river they 
were overtaken and lost in a snow-storm, and in 
this sad dilamma they were forced as night ap- 
proached, for want of a better shelter, to lye under the 
Rockes, whilst the Raine and snow did bediew their 
Rockye beds." The following is the report of the 
committee, which is not as valuable for accuracy as 
it is helpful, in locating the Shawshine house : 

" Wee, wtiose names are underwritten, being appointed to viewe 
Sliawshin &. to talte notice of what fitness it was for a village & accord- 
ingly to o' apprehensions nialie returne to tlie C^t ; wee therefore mani- 
fest thus much : that for the quantity it is aniticiont, but for the quality 
in o' app'heusions no way tit, the upland being very barren & very little 
medow there about, nor any good timber almost fit for any use. Wee 
went after we came to Shawshin house, by estimation. Some 14 to 16 
miles at the least, in compass ; from Shawshin house wee began to go 



downe the ry ver 4 or 5 miles near East ; then we left that point & went 
neere upon north, came to Concord Ryver, a little belowe the falls, 
about one mile or neare ; then wee went up the ryver some 5 miles 
untill wee came to a place called the Two Brethren : and from thence it 
is about two miles & I2 to Shawshin, & the most part of all the good 
land is given out already ; more land there is at the south side of the 
house, between the side of Concord line & the heade of Cambridge lino, 
but littell niedow, & the upland of little worth ; & and this is what we 
can say hearin. 

" SVMON WlLLARn. 

" Edw* Convers." 

The signers of the report were not the ones ap- 
pointed tor this exploration by the Courtiu 1637, but 
the former, Willard was a prominent inhabitant of 
Concord and Convers was of Woburn, and as such 
may have had an eye to this territory for their own 
advantage and hence were unconsciously influenced 
in making their report, which is not an accurate de- 
scription of the laud. After receiving the report of 
the exploring committee the General Court renewed 
the grant to Cambridge and specified the bounds: 
" All the land lying upon Shaweshin Ryver & between 
that and Concord Ryver, and between that & Merri- 
mack Ryver, not formerly granted by this Cu't." 
May 9, 1644, the Court "ordered that the ryver at 
Shawshin shall be called by the name of Shawshin.'" 

By a vote of January 2, 1654, a second division of 
land was made in Concord. " It was voted to divide 
the town into three parts or quarters ;" as the east 
quarter, in part, fell to Bedford, it is to that division 
that we confine our investigation. The report of the 
committee to make the division is as follows : " The 
east quarter by their familyes are from Henry Far- 
weles all eastwards with Thomas Brookes, Ensign 
Wheeler, Robert Meriam, George Meriam, John 
Adames, Richard Rice." 

In 1663 the town voted "that every man that hath 
not his proportion of lands laid out too him, that is 
due to him, shall gitt it laid out by an artis" before 
1665; "and that each one should give to the town 
clerk a description of their lands." Mr. Shattuck's 
table, made from the records, is helpful in showing 
some of the divisions that fall to Bedford: William 
Hartwell had 241 acres; John Hartwell, 17; Wm. 
Taylor, 117; Joseph Wheeler, 357; Caleb Brooksr 
150; Thos. Pellet and Joseph Dean, 280 ; Eliphalet 
Fox, 106 ; others are indicated as being in the east 
(juarter, but are omitted, as there is no reasonable cer- 
tainty of their exact location. Each quarter had the 
care of its own highways and had a board of overseers 
to look after its interests. Mr Shattucksays: "Regu- 
lations were established in each quarter, similar to 



1 The spelling of this as of many proper names of early colonial days 
is variable. Shattuck, in his history of 1833, seems to prefer " Shaw- 
afteeiC Walcott in his recent work, *' Concord in the Colonial Period," 
accepts Shawshine as the more approved. In following his good judg- 
ment we use the latter form. 




^ i 



^ g 



w C w 



^ e 



BEDFORD. 



those in wards of a city. Each chose its own oQicers, 
kept its own records, made its own taxes," etc. The 
first overseers for tiie e;ust ([uarler were Ensign 
Wheeler and William llartwull (without doubt Wil- 
liam I.). 

The Governor Wintlirop grant remained intact, 
and probably unoccupied until Kiilt, when it was 
sold l)y Fitz .John Wintlirop to Job Ijane for .C230. 
Mr. Lane was distinguished as an "artificer" and a 
" house Wright." He paid for the Winthrop farm by 
erecting a mansion for Kit/, John Winthrop at Nor- 
wich, Connecticut, and he built one of the college 
buildings at Cambridge. His skill and reputation 
are acknowledged in being selected as an " able and 
honest artificer for erecting a bridge over Uillcrica 
Kiver." The contract made January 11, ItJGT, .shows 
that he was to receive for the work "seven score and 
five pounds starling;" "ten in cash, ten in wheat, 
ten in malt, and the remainder in corn and cattle." 

The discharge of obligations, of importance like the 
two cited above, by the use of barter, suggcst-s the 
state of the currency at that time. The conveyance 
of the Winthrop farm is made on vellum, now in the 
possession of the heirs of Mary ]jane Cutler; the deed 
is in an excellent state of preservation, and after hav- 
ing lain in folds 2l'.3 years and changed custodians 
many times, can be read with comparative ease. It 
begins as follows : 

"This indenture, made the second day of August, 
in the year of our Lord, one thou.sand si.\ hundred 
and sixty & four, in the sixteenth year of the reign of 
y' Sovereign Lord Charles the Second, by the grace 
of Cod, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, 
King and defender of the faith. To wit: Helween 
Fitz John Winthrop, of New Lonilon, in the Colony 
of Connecticut, in New England, Esq., on the one 
jiarl, and Job Lane, of Maiden, in the County of Mid- 
dlesex, in New England, carpenter, on the other part." 

The purchaser of the Winthrop farm was from 
Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire, Engl.ind, where he 
inherited property from which he received an annual 
income that he bequeathed to his son John. 

Job Lane built a house very soon after he came in 
possession of the farm, l(i(i4. The Hiram Dutton 
house is sui)posed to mark the spot, if it is not in i)art 
the original house. It was the only hou.se in liiller- 
ica south of lialph Hill's at the time of King I'hilip's 
War. Job Lane went to Maiden some years before 
his death, which occurred in l(i97. and established a 
home. He gave by will, the Winthrop fiirm to three 
of his heirs. They agreeil to a division of the farm, 
which was found, by survey, in 170i), to contain ir)00 
acres. Each had a portion of upland, meadow and 
woodland, and many of the odd-shaped lots of land 
of to-day are the result of that division. Capt. John 
Lane had 750 acres, Samuel Fitch had 37.5 and Mat- 
thew Whipple h.ad 375. The former, Capt. John 
Lane, was son of .lob; Fitch and Whipple were 



grandsons, who represented deceased daughters of 
,lob Lane.' 

There is no evidence that Whipple settled on his 
portion, but the othe rs did, and some of the lots are 
held, in 1890, by their descendants, (the sixth genera- 
tion). 

The Shawshine grant included all of the remaining 
land that was set otl'to liedford at the incorporation. 
Two small accessions were made later. It does not 
appear that Cambridge took action towards the settle- 
ment of Shawshine until April 9, 1648. Only those 
grants known to be in Bedford are mentioned here. 
Cookin (Gooking), had 500 acres; it com|>rised the 
northeast section of the present town of Bedford. The 
grantee was Capt. Daniel Gookin, and was thus pub- 
licly recognized as a valuable servant of the Colony. 
He was a faithful friend of the natives and a co- 
worker with the Apostle Eliot, and had a great influ- 
ence with the Waniesit Indians. His name appears 
as Magistrate in 1084, before whom depositions were 
taken in regard to the Musketaipiid purcha.se of 
U;36. Kev. Joseph IMitchell had 500 acres. This was 
all purchased by Michael Bacon, in July, 1082, for 
£200. Nathaniel Page bought a grant of Grimes, in 
1087. It contained 500 acres. Edward Oakcs had a 
grant of 300 acres, extending from the Page land 
southward to " Concord Old Line." Thomas Oakes 
had 150 acreSj extending from the Bacon purchase to 
Winthrop form on the west. The Bedford Springs 
covers this grant. 

"The great meadows," east of the Poor Farm, in- 
cluding sixty acres, constituted the lai't grant to Gover- 
nor Winthro|). With the exception of the Winthrop 
meadows, all of the land remaining between Thomas 
(_)akes, (Bedford Springs) and " Concord Old Line," 
bounded on the east by P.age and Edward Oakes, and 
on the west by the Winthrop Farm, was known until 
1708 as Billerica Commons, (the squadron south of 
Oakes farm) Bedford Vill.age is included in this. 

Dr. Page, in his " History of Cambridge," has the 
following: "Michael Bacon, of Woburn, bought of 
Rodger Shaw a farm in the northwesterly part of 
Cambridge (now Bedford), including all the meadows 
adjoining to the great swamj) near the east corner of 
Concord bounds that falls to Cambridge. The Shaw- 
shine River runs from this swamp." 

This must have been a second purchase of land 
in this town by Mr. Bacon. There still remains about 
700 acres of the Shawshine grant within the limits of 
Bedford, the section east of the Page purchase and 
the Rev. Joseph Jlitchell grant. This must include 
some minor grants, among which, doubtless, is that 
of thirty acres to John Wilson, in 1085, " for encour- 
agement towards his corn-mill." The Billerica Com- 
mon lands or " Squadron South of Oakes farme," be- 

^ Tlie law of Massachusetts gave to the oldest son a double portion of a 
parent's estate, which may account for the uuequal division. 



BEDFORD. 



fore mentioned aa including the village of Bedford, 
containing 000 acres, was divided in 1708. The al- 
lotment, according to Hazen's Billerica, was as 
follows : " It is agreed that Lt. John Stearns should 
attend the laying out of the lots as fast as might be, 
and to carry the hind end of the chain, (only as to his 
own) and Daniel Hill or Henry Jefts to carry the 
chain for said Stearns's lot." 

" The first lot was granted to lieutenant Samuel 
Hill including seventy-six acres bounded two hun- 
dred and forty ro<ls on Concord, and sixty-four rods 
on Winthrop Farm. The main street in Bedford was 
afterwards located on the north line of this lot, and 
the 'old line ' of Concord is now to be traced sixty- 
four rods south of that street and parallel with 
it." '■ The second lot of twenty-three acres was 
Fassett's, " Patrick Fassett's," and became the prop- 
erty of Israel Putnam, as did the third, granted to 
Joseph Hill. The two included hfty acres. The 
fourth lot was ninety -one acres, laid out to Jonathan 
Hill, next to Oakes Farm; and others following 
southerly were Nathaniel Hill, Joseph Farley, Daniel 
Hill, John 8tearns, Henry Jefts, John Parker and 
Job Lane, the last reaching Mr. Page's farm. 

Indian Claims — Having obtained the English 
right to the territory the pioneers had an obligation 
to their predecessors, the Indians, to discharge ; this 
may be regarded by some as only the demands of the 
moral law, yet it has been gratifying to all subse- 
quent generations that it was faithfully discharged 
and of benefit to those who participated as it doubt- 
less prevented much anxiety and bloodshed. 

The disease that had visited the Indians previous 
to the coming of the Pilgrims, had reduced them in 
New England from more than 18,000 warriors to about 
as many hundred. Of the five tribes that were locat- 
ed south of New Hampshire, the Massachusetts oc- 
cupied the territory north of Charles Kiver and west 
of Massachusetts Bay, and was supposed to number 
about 300. They were divided into villages of which 
Musketaquid was one. Its limits were designated 
by the act of the General Court passed September 2, 
1635 : " It is ordered that there shall be a plantacon 
att Musketequid, & that there shall be 6 myles of 
land square to belong to it." It embraced about two- 
fifihs of the present town of Bedford, besides Concord 
and other lands. Of this tract of wilderness they ob- 
tained a quit claim from the natives in the following 
year. According to depositions taken in 1684 it 
appears that the deed from the natives was executed 
by Squaw Sachem a widow, who represented her late 
husband, Nanepashemet, Wappacowet, next in power 
to the King, who had claimed the widowed Sachem 



1 This is practically correct, yet a divergence Boutbweeterly beginning 
a little west of the Trinitarian nteoting-houge, is thonght by C. W. Jcnks, 
a carefnl student uf early bounds, to establish the " old line " somewhat 
different, in that vicinity of the town. 



in marriage, and by others of the tribe. The Indian 
title according to deponents was given in considera- 
tion of " Wompompeag, Hatchetts, Hows, Knives, 
Cotton Cloath & shirts with a new suit of cotton 
cloath, a linnin band, a hat, shoes, stockins and a 
great Coat " for the new husband of squaw Sachem, 
he was " the pow wow, priest, witch, sorcerer or cliir- 
urgeon " of the tribe. When considered in the light 
of the present, the compensation was trifling, but it 
satisfied the natives and the treaty of purchase secur- 
ed friendly relations. 

The Indian settlement of the Shawshine Grant was 
known as Wamesit or Weymesit, situated between 
the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, being a favorable 
location for securing sufficient food. There is but 
slight evidence that the Bedford portion w.os fre- 
quented by the Indians of any village, although it is 
probable that the broad open plains were annually 
burnt over and rudely cultivated, while the birchen 
canoe of the red man plied up and down the Sliaw- 
shine and Concord. The long mound or breastwork 
now seen on the east shore of the Concord River, in 
Greenwood's Grove near Bedford line, is suggestive of 
Indian origin and may have been built to aid in hunt- 
ing. 

All of the aboriginal claims to the Shawshine grant 
were extinguished by the " Wamesick Purchase of 
1685." Thus the entire territory of Bedford was 
honorably obtained from the natives. 

Billerica had thousands of acres of common grounds 
that were apportioned at different times among the 
early settlers. Those who had come later bought of 
the grantees and settled in the outlying district (now 
Bedford). They had not shared in the allotments, 
while they had paid their proportion of the charges. 
They petitioned the General Court, and on Friday, 
November 16, 1705, it was ordered " That Capt. 
John Lane, Jonathan Bacon, John Wilson and other, 
the Petitioners that are Freeholders & Inhabitants ot 
the sd. Town of Billerica, be Intitled to & have a 
proportionable share with other the Commoners 
Proprietors, & Inhabitants of the sd. Town in all fu- 
ture Divisions of all undivided and waste Lands be- 
longing to ihe sd. Town, according to their Propor- 
tion to the Town charges for the space of seven years 
past." The town in 1707-8, January 29, granted to 
the purchasers of Cambridge Church Farm a ten- 
acre right " to [iromote and maintain peas and quiet- 
ness among us." Captain Lane and others who thus 
secured a right, received their portion in the subse- 
quent divisions of the common grounds. Their por- 
tions seem to have been west of Concord River. 

An accession was made to the town on the extreme 
northwest by which a small tract of the Dudley 
Grant was obtained. This was the Edward Stearns 
farm, set oft' from Billerica in 1766. By this addition 
the historic and enduring landmarks, "Two Broth- 
ers," or " Brother Rocks " were secured to Bedford. 



BEDFORD. 



Evi,dence does not favor the supposition tliat the 
original grantees of Shawshine territory established 
homes or began the settleincnls included in tliis town 
and perhaps never viewed their landed possessions. 
" Extensive meadows bordering on rivers and lying 
adjacent to upland plains have ever been favorite 
spots to new settlers." A topographical survey shows 
that this territory offered attr.ictions to settlers, and 
there is unniistak.ablo local evidence that early settlers 
pushed out from the villages as soon as it was pru- 
dent and established homes near the winding Shaw- 
shine which in itself furnished power for industry. 
There are traces of roads long since discontinued. 
Depressions on the surface of neglected fields near 
which may still be seen the purple lilac and the 
thorny jiear. 

The (ieneral Court ordered in ltj;!5 that no new 
buildings should be erected more than half a mile 
from the meeting-house "except mill-house and 
farm-house of such as had their dwelling-house 
in some town." This was .1 precaution against the 
Indians and lasted about eight years. This leads to 
the conclusion that the settlements in Bedford terri- 
tory, previous to \G4^ were confined to the Shawshine 
house. The "Corne mille " with its adjacent build- 
ings, antedates King Philip's war (I07(>), and accord- 
ing to Billerica records the liacon, afterwards Fitch mill 
was located before l(i()l5. Fi is mentioni'd thus : " U> : 
1 : 6,3. Will' Tay & George farley are Apoynted to 
Lay out a highway from the Towne, leading to Mr'. 
Mitchell's farnie, and to y' land y' was Lay'' out for 
Mr'. Edward Oats' farme, on y" south East end of Mr. 
Winthrop's great meadow, to be layd out four polls 
wide." 

The Shawshine House w.%s one of the Indian truck- 
ing houses which preceded the first settlements of 
New England, where the natives bartered furs, etc., 
for English merchandise. And as appears by the 
report of the exploring committee was within the 
present limits of Bedford and po.ssibly the Kenrick 
dwelling marks the site. The records of Billerica 
furnish evidence that it was occupied by a family, as 
Hannah, infant daughter of Henry Jefts died '' y*^ 
first weeke of May, 1G.5.'?." This is the earliest event 
noted in Billerica Records. The first birth recorded 
was that of Samuel, son of (Seorge Farley, (March, 
1054). The former, Henry .lelts, may be the same 
person who has been shown as having a portion of 
the common lands in 1708, and the surname of the 
latter, Farley, we have seen in connection with a por- 
tion of the same land. 

Michael Bacon, who purchased the Mitchell grant 
must have been located on the estate before he be- 
came the possessor, as births of his children are re- 
corded as early as 1G71, and if the first mill was built 
by him he must have been there before 1663, and 
then or very soon had neighbors as ai)pears from the 
following record in Billerica, showing the assignment 
of families to garrisou ("No. 10"). 



" 13 6». '75 (1675). 

" At a iHiblick Towue Meeting — 

^'TUc- Towne, cuiisiilering the providence of God at the p''sent calling 
us to lav asido our ordinary occatious in providing for onr creatures and 
to tjike special care for the p'serving of our lives and the lives of onr 
'n-ivesand children, tlie enemy being near and the warnings by gods 
providence upon our neighbors being very solenine and awfull, do there- 
fore onjer A agree Joyntly to prpare a place of safety for women and 
chiMren, and that all persons and tean\3 shall attend 3« said worke 
uiitill it 1»- finished ; and account of y« wlioll charge being kept it shall 
be equally divided upon the inhabitants with other Towne charges." 

At a meeting of the selectmen and a committee of 
the militia, held " 14. 8m. 1675," a li.st of garrison- 
houses is reported, in which is the following : 

"Also, Timothy Brookes house is allowed for garri- 
son & to entertain Michael Bacon's family, & to have 
two garrison soldiers to defend y" mill & himself, y" 
m.aster of the garrison. (Timothy Brooks bought of 
George Farley a part of the Oakes Grant in 1673)." 

In the assignment of families to garrisons the 
records show that "Also, Job Laine was allowed to for- 
tify his own owne house, and to have two soldiers for 
garrison-men to defend his house, in case y' country 
could sp.arfe them." 

The settlements increased so that in 1728 an eflbrt 
was made to secure the formation of a new town. 
Following the custom in forming a new township, pe- 
titions were made to the inhabitants of Billerica, by 
the settlers on that side of the proposed towiisl'.ip, and 
to Concord by the settlers on the Concord side. The 
petitions were substantially as follows : 

" To the gentlemen, the Selectmen and otiior inhabitants of Conoord, 
in Lawful meeting assembled : the petition of suniiry of the inhab- 
itants of the northeasterly pai't of the town of Concord humbly 
showeth : That we, your humble petitioners, having, in conjunction 
with the southerly part of Billerica, not without good advice, and, 
wo hope, upon religious principles, assembled in the winter past, and 
supported the preaching of the gospel among ns, cheerfully paying in 
the meantime our proportion to the ministry in our towns, have very 
nnanimously agreed to address onr respective towns, to disTuiss us and 
set us off to be a distinct township or district, if the Great and Gen- 
eral Court or assembly shall favor such onr constitution. 

*' We, therefore, the snbsbcribers hereunto, and your luuuble peti- 
tioners, do firet apply to yon to lead us and set ns forward in so good 
a work, which, we trust, may be much for the glory of Christ and the 
spiritual benefit of ourselves and our posterity. Our distance from 
your idace of worship is so great that wo labor under insupportable 
ditlicnlties in attending constantly there, as we desire to do. In the 
extreme diflicult seasons of heat and cold we were ready to say of 
the Sabbath : * Behold what a weariness is it.' The extraordinary ex- 
penses we are at in transporting and refreshing ourselves and families 
on the Sabbath has added to our burdens. This we have endured from 
year to year with aa n^uch patience as the nature of the case would 
hear, but our increasing numbers now seem to plead an exemption ; 
and as it is in your power, so wo hope it will be in your grace to relieve 
us. Gentlemen, if our seeking to draw off proceeded from any disiiffec- 
tion to o\ir present Rev. Pastor, or the Christian Society witli whom we 
liave taken such sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of 
God in company, then hear us not to-day. But we greatly desire, if God 
please, to be eased of our burdens on the Sabbath, the travel and fatigue 
thereof, that the word of God may be nigh to ns, near to our houses and 
in our hearts, that we and onr little ones may serve the Lord. We hope 



10 



BEDFOKD. 



that God, wlin stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to set forward temple worll, 
has stirred us up to ask, and will stirr you up to grant the prayer of our 
petition, so shall your iiuiiihle pefitionere ever pray, as in duty bound, 
etc." 

The jietition had seventeen signatures, all from the 
Concord side. As many more petitioned from the 
Billerica side to their town. Concord granted her 
consent without objection, but Billerica clung to her 
outlying acres with more tenacity. This may be ac- 
counted for by the fact that she was being shorn of 
lands in other directions, and this new luoposilion, if 
successful, was to take some other most valuable citi- 
zens. Their remonstrance did not avail at the Court, 
and the Act of Incorporation was passed September 
23, 1729. 



CHAPTER II. 



Name — Boundaries^BenevoIence^Recordi — Fir&t Meetittg-house and Min 
isUr — Clntrches Formed — Taxes — Some Old FantUies and Sites. 



Why the petitioners prayed to have the new town 
called Bedford, is chiefly a conjecture ; but we seem 
to see in it an act of reverence for the memory of the 
first minister of Concord, who was from Bedfordshire, 
England. The part which he had taken in moulding 
the character of the early settlers, must have had an in- 
fluence on the succeeding generations, as the language 
of the petitioners for the new town seems to imply. 
The session of the General Court, which granted the 
act of incorporation, was held at Cambridge, and be- 
gan August 28, 1729. The new town was vested with 
all the "powers, privileges and immunities that the 
inhabitants of any of the towns of this province are or 
ought by law to be vested with : provided that the 
said town of Bedford do, within the space of three 
years from the publication of this act, erect, build 
and finish, a suitable house for the public worship of 
God, and procure and settlea learned orthodox minis- 
ter of good conversation; and make provision for his 
comfortable and honorable .support, and likewise pro- 
vide a school to instruct their youth in writing and 
reading." 

By subseijuent divisions Lincoln and Carlisle were 
taken from Concord, and Burlington from Woburn, 
so that Bedford is bounded at present on the north 
and northeast by Billerica, east by Burlington, south- 
east by Lexington, south by Lincoln, southwest and 
west by Concord, and northwest by Carlisle with Con- 
cord River as a division between Bedford and westerly 
towns. "The newe towne" known as " Newtowne," 
1631; "Cambridge," 1(138, and "Lexington," 1718, 
cornered upon Bedford, and later gave up a small por- 
tion to her. In the records of March, 17.'")S, we see 
that Benjamin Farley and Joseph Fassett were 
granted the right to straighten the line between Lex- 
ington and Bedford, and the latter town then acquir- 
ed the dismal tract known as " Farley Hole." In 



176G Ebenezer Page's land was joined to Bedford ; this 
was done to straighten the line. When one. Grimes, 
petitioned to have his land setoff to Lexington the 
town voted in the negative, and also placed upon re- 
cord their willingness "to refer it to the wise and ju- 
dicious determination of His Excellency, the Gover- 
nor, and the Honorable Court." 

The forming of a new town occasioned expenses for 
which money was needed, and land was called for on 
which to erect the meeting-house and for other pur- 
poses. These needs had been anticipated as appears 
by the records : 

" Bedford, January the 20'^, 1730. 
'"This is the account of the money aiul laud that was given to 
incouragemeut for the Town in the year 1720.' ' Rlr, Joseph Dean, I)ea. 
Israel Putuam, Mr. Josiah Fassett, Mr. John Whipple, Mr. Benjamin 
t'olbarn, Mr. Samuel Merriain each ga\e land, and the following men 
are credited with gifts of money : Mr. James Lane, Cornet Nathaniel 
Page, Lieut. Job liaue, BIr. John I.aue, Dea, Nathaniel Merriam, Sir. 
.Tob Lane, Mr. Joseph Bacou, Mr. John HartwoII, Mr. Jonathan Bacon, 
Mr. John Fitch and Mr. John Whitniore, of Medford.' 'The wife of 
Nathaniel Whittecor, of Concord, gave five pounds, old tenor.' " 

With the records of the town-meeting of January 
the 7"', 1729-30, appears the following : 

"Mr. William Hartvvell gave Ave pounds and it was delivered to the 
selectmen, and 20 shillings of it went to pay Mr. Oliver Whitmore for 
Uightin deeds and acknoligin of tlieni befor him. for the law Boak, 
two pound ; for town boak, ten shilings, and the money Remaining is 
one pound, eight shiling and two pence in the hand of M'. Nathaniel 
Meriam. Tlie law book was ordered to be passed about according to the 
judgment of the selecttneu. With a sufficient tract of land and £61 in 
the Ii'easury these determined people began the work of building up 
their newly incorporated town." 

The records of the town open with the following : 

" In Council Sei)temher 26, 1729, voted that M'. Jonathan Bacon, a 
principal Iidiabitauc of the Town of Bedford, bee and hereby is fully 
Iiupowered and Directed to assemble the FreeholDers and other luhabi- 
tanc of the Town to convene as soon as may be to elect and choose Town 
officers to stand untill the next anniversary meeting in March. 
".Seut Down for Coneurence, 

"J. WlLLARD, Secry. 
" In tlie House of Representatives, .September: 2fi, 1729. 

''(iniNCY, Spkr. 
" Read and concurd, 
" tSonseuted to. W. Dummer, 
"A true copy — Examined, .1. Wir.LARP, J9ecr^." 

The officers elected under the above call were : 

" Moderator, Jonathan Bacon ; selectmen, Samuel Fitch, Nathaniel 
Merriam, Jonathan Bacon, Nathaniel Page and Daniel Davis ; town 
clerk, Samuel Fitch ; citnstables, Israel Patnam and Stephen Davis ; 
town treasurer, .lohn Fassett ; surveyors. Job Lane and Samuel Merri- 
am; tithingmen, Daniel Cheever and Josiah Fassett, fence-viewers 
Obed Abbott and Benjamin Colhiiru ; Ilog Ref., James Wheelor and Jon- 
athan Bacou ; sealer of weights and measures, John Lane ; field driv- 
er's, Thomas WooUey and John Whipple. i" 

^ Tlie simple statement of a name does not identify in some families, 
hence we note in this connection that Jonathan Bacon was a son of 
fllichael purchaser of the Mitchell grant, ganuiel Fitch was the head 
of the family in town. Nathaniel Merriam, dea., 1730, was first of the 
nmnorons family in Bedford, was descended from Joseph, of Concord, 
wlio died in 1040. Nathaniel died in 1738. Nathaniel Page was the 
third of the name in Bedford. Daniel Davis was son of Samuel and 
Mary (Medows), born, 1673. Israel Putnam, consin of General Israel 
Putnam, born, 1699, was deacon, 1730 ; married daughter of Jonathan 
Bacon. Stephen Davis was father of Deacon Stephen, died 1738. John 
Fassett, treasurer, was sou of Patrick died 1730. It ia a coincidence of 
interest that his brother Samuel, was first treasurer of Westford (Bed- 
ford's twin sister). 



BEDFORD. 



11 



The meeting-house was so nearly completed before 
the act of incorporation was passed that the first town- 
meeting was held in it, and at a second meeting held 
seven days later "Tiie town excepted of the meting- 
house, as the former commety had agreed with Joseph 
^itch, for four hundred and sixty pounds." Like 
the houses of worship of the early settlers of New 
England, this otlered but few attractions, save a shel- 
ter from the storms ; but the peojile made haste to 
put it in a more attractive condition. At the same 
meeting they chose a committee "To seethe meeting- 
house parfected and finished," and also "provide a 
ministor." They voted to raise "Forty pound to 
mantain preachin among us," and provided "for a 
Reat of fifteen [lound to defray the charges that shall 
be or may a Hies in the Town." Another action of 
the same meeting " was to chous this four men : Jlr. 
John Fasselt, Mr. Nathaniel Meriam, Co'. Nathaniel 
Paige, Mr. Josiah Fassett to tacke dedes of the land 
thftt is for the tow that is given or that is sold." In 
January, 1730, it was voted "to lot out the pue 
ground and seat the meting bous." The instructions 
to the commitlee were, " The man and bis wife to set 
in the pue (excepting deacons), tber shall be but one 
poall to an esteat in seating the meting hous and 
pues, and they are to have re.'spect to them that are 
fifty years of age or upward ; thos that are under fifty 
years of age are to be seated in the meting hous ac- 
ording to ther pay. The front foer seat in the gal- 
eree to be equal with the third seat below in the body 
of seats." 

The progressive spirit of these early citizens of this 
town is seen in their willingness to allow the sexes 
equal rights in the |>e\vs. "Men's stairs" and 
" women's stairs " are often referred to in the records, 
but suggest the division among the singers. In the 
ab.sence of a floor-plan the descriptive location of the 
pews is as follows: "Stephen Davis' pue is at the East 
End of the meeting-house, south of the east door going 
to the women's stayers." A committee was soon 
chosen to "treat with Mr. Hancok and with Mr. Ru- 
gels and Mr. Whiting in order to a fast, and thay 
appointed a fast on the 22nd day of January, 1729- 
30." The ministers of the neighboring towns assem- 
bled and held a "fast," and a call was soon extended 
to a young man who had been preaching for the peo- 
ple. " Mr. Bowes was choas to be our ministor." 
The town agreed to give him " ninety-five pounds the 
first year, an hundred pounds the second year, and so 
on annually : to give him five and twenty cords of 
wood yearly ; that the money be all wayes in propor- 
tion to its present valuation and credit which is at 
eighteen shillings per ounce, that his salary be paid 
every half year." .Mr. Howes also had £200 as a set- 
tlement fee, which was partly paid by a deed of six- 
teen acres of land, at £8 per acre. Rev. Nicholas 
Bowes was ordained as the first minister of Bedford, 
July 1.5, 1730, and the church was organized on the 
same day. Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington (father- 



in- law of Mr. Bowes), was moderator of the council. 
Rev. Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge had a part in the 
service. 

Some time before the church was organized " the 
Brethren had met and proposed to form themselves 
into a state of church relation. They had voted that 
a person on entering the church should give in writ- 
ing a confession of bis faith which should be read in 
public. There were twenty-four foundation members. 
The foundation covenant was purely evangelical in 
spirit and the government was strictly of the Congre- 
gational order. The parent towns had equal repre- 
sentation in the new church. 

August 4, 1730, Israel Putnam and Nathaniel Mer- 
riam were chosen deacons, and on the first Sabbath 
of September following, the ordinance of the Lord's 
Supper was first administered. At the first public 
Thanksgiving service on November 12, 1730, a collec- 
tion was taken for the use of the church amounting 
to £6. "The good people of Concord increased the 
sum and With the Consent of y" Brethren of y' C"", 
The Deacons purchased 1 Table Cloth; 1 Napkin; 2 
Dishes; 1 Flaggon; 2 Pewter Tankards; 1 Bason." 
"Some time after They purchased another Flaggon 
& 2 more Pewter Tankards." 

The town of Bedford was now fully organized and 
in complete running order, both as a municipality 
and an ecclesiastical bod}', and was early recognized 
as such by the Province ami neighboring churches. 
December 23, 1733, the deacons were chosen to rep- 
resent the church at the ordination of Rev. Mr. 
Ebenezer Hancock, of Lexington, and in October, 
1735, at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Clapp, of Woburn. 
The first recognition from the Province in the w.ay of 
a tax was in 1730, amounting to £20 13«. 7d. There 
was a'so assessed the town's proportion of the repre- 
sentative tax in 1729, which was £7 19«. 9d., the 
minister's salary, the expenses of the ordination of 
Rev. Mr. Bowes, the allowance to Joseph Fassett 
"for time spent at General Court in perfecting our 
township, together with his pocket expenses while 
there," and the county tax, making a tax of £188 9s. 
(id. 

The allowance to Jonathan Bacon for his time 
spent "in perfecting our townshiji," was £8 8s. 3d, 
doubtless paid from funds in the treasury. Such a 
drain on the limited income of the early settlers of 
Bedford must have been a severe trial of their cour- 
age, and especially hard after the town tax of the first 
year of their existence as a municipality. In 1729 
they paid "a Meting-houes Reat of £300 8s. 3d.," and 
a " town and minister Reat of £.51 15s. -id." There 
is no evidence that more than two voters lost courage, 
and they were refused an abatement of their proportion 
of the tax. 

There are but few of the farms of the town that re- 
main in the same family possession as at the incorpo- 
ration and only two instances where the descent of 
possession has not occasioned a change in the surname 



10 



BEDFORD. 



that God. wlinstiiTPd up Ilie spirit of (\vni8 to set forwarii temple work, 
lias stirred iis up to ask, and will stirr you up to grant the prayer of our 
petition, so shall your humble petitioners ever pray, as in duty houTul, 
etc." 

The petition h.td seventeen signatures, all from the 
Concord side. A.s many more petitioned from the 
Billerica side to their town. Concord granted her 
consent without objection, but Billerica clung to her 
outlying acres with more tenacity. This may be ac- 
counted for by the fact that she was being shorn of 
lands ill other directions, and this new proposition, if 
successful, was to take some of her most valuable citi- 
zens. Their remonstrance did not avail at the Court, 
and the Act of Incorporation was passed September 
23, 1729. 



CHAPTER II. 



Name — BoundtirifB— Benevolence — Records — First Mcotiug-house and Miu 
uter—Clmiches Formed — TuJes — Sovie Old Fimlilies and Sites. 



Why the petitioners prayed to have tlie new town 
called Bedford, is chiefly a conjecture ; but we seem 
to see in it an act of reverence for tbe memory of the 
first minister of Concord, who was from Bedfordshire, 
England. The part which he bad taken in moulding 
the characterof the early settlers, must have had an in- 
fluence on the .succeeding generations, as the language 
of the petitioners for ihe new town seems to imply. 
The session of the General Court, which granted the 
act of incorporation, was held at Cambridge, and be- 
gan August 28, 172!». The new town was vested with 
all the "powers, privilege? and immunities that the 
Inhabitants of any of the towns of this ])rovince are or 
ought by law to be vested with : provided that the 
said town of Bedford do, within the space of three 
years from the publication of this act, erect, build 
and finish, a .suitable house for the public worship of 
God, and procure and settlea learned orthodo.x minis- 
ter of good conversation ; and make provision for his 
comfortable and honorable .support, and likewise pro- 
vide a school to instruct their youth in writing and 
reading." 

By subsecjuent divisions Lincoln and Carlisle were 
taken from Concord, and Burlington from Woburn, 
so that Bedford is bounded at present on the north 
and northeast by Billerica, east by Burlington, south- 
east by Lexington, south by Lincoln, southwest and 
west by Concord, and northwest by Carlisle with Con- 
cord River as a division between Bedford and westerly 
towns. "The newe towne" known as " Newtowne," 
1631 ; " Cambridge," 1038, and " Lexington," 1713, 
cornered upon Bedford, and later gave up a small por- 
tion to her. In the records of March, 1758, we see 
that Benjamin Farley and Joseph Fassett were 
granted the right to straighten the line between Lex- 
ington and Bedford, and the latter town then acquir- 
ed the dismal tract known as " Farley Hole." In 



1766 Ebenezer Page's land was joined to Bedford ; this 
was done to straighten the line. When one, Grimes, 
petitioned to have his land set oft' to Lexington the 
town voted in the negative, and also placed upon re- 
cord their willingness "to refer it to the wise and ju- 
dicious determination of His Excellency, the Gover- 
nor, and the Horior.able Court." 

The forming of a new town occasioned expenses for 
which money was needed, and land was called for on 
which to erect the meeting-house and for other pur- 
poses. Tjiese needs had been anticipated as appears 
by the records : 

"Bedford, .lauiiary the 20*'', 1730. 
'"ThiB is the account of the money and hiud that was giveu to 
incuuragement for the Town in the year 1720,' ' Blr. Joseph Dean, Dea. 
Israel Putuaui. Mr. Josiah Fassett, Mr. John M'hippie, Mr. Benjamin 
Colharn, Mr. Samuel Merriam each gave laud, and the following men 
are credited with gifts of money : Mr. James Lane, Cornet Nathaniel 
Page, Lieut. Job Lane, Mr. John Lane, Dea. Nathaniel Qlerriam, Mr. 
Job Lane, Mr. Joseph Bacon. Mr. John Ilartwell, Mr. Jonathan Bacon, 
Mr. John Fitch and Mr. John Whitmore, of Medford.' 'The wife of 
Nathaniel \\'iiittecor, of Concord, gave five pounds, old tenor.' " 

With the records of the town-meeting of January 
the 7"', 1729-30, appears the following : 

" Mr, William Harlwell gave live pounds and it was delivered to the 
selectmen, and 20 shillings of it went to pay Mr. Oliver Whitmore for 
Right in deeds and acknoligin of them befor him. for the law Boak, 
two pound ; for town boak, ten shilings, and the money Eemaining is 
one pound, eight shiling and two pence in the hand of M^ Nathaniel 
Meriam. The law book was ordered to be passed about according to the 
judgment of the selectmen. With a sufficient tract of land and ,£l3l in 
tlie treasury these determined people began the work of building up 
their newly incorporated town." 

The records of the town open with the following : 

'* In Council September 26, 1720, voted that Mr. Jonathan Bacon, a 
l>rincipal Inhabitanc of the Town of Bedford, bee and hereby is fully 
Impowered and Directed to assemble tbe FreeholDers and other Inhabi- 
tanc of the Town to convene as soon as may be to elect and choose Town 
officers to stand untill the next anniversary meeting in March. 
*'Sent Down for Coiicurence, 

"J. WiLLARD, Secri/. 
" In the House of Ilepresentatives, September: 2G, 1720, 

" QlilNCT, Sjih: 
"Read .and concurd, 
" Consented to. W. Dummer, 
*' A true copy — Examined, J. Wii.lahd, iSccrj/," 

The officers elected under the above call were : 

"Moderator, Jonathan Bacon; selectmen, Samuel Fitch, Nathaniel 
Slerriam, Jonathan Bacon, Nathaniel Page and Daniel Davis ; town 
clerk, Samuel Fitch ; constables, Israel Putnam and Stephen Davis ; 
town treasurer, John Fassett ; surveyors. Job Lane and Samuel Merri- 
am; tithingmen, Iianiel Cheever and Josiah Fassett, fence-viewers 
Obed Abbott and Benjamin Colburn ; Hog Ref., James Wheeloraud Jon- 
athan Bacon ; sealer of weights and mejisures, John Lane ; field driv- 
el's, Thomas W'oolley and John Whipple, i" 

1 The simple statement of a name doeB not identify in some fauiilies, 
hence we note in this connection that Jonathan Bacon was a son of 
Michael purchaser of the Mitchell grant, Sanuiel Fitch was tbe head 
of the fauiily in town. Nathaniel Merriam, dea., 1730, was first of the 
numerous family in Bedford, was descended from Joseph, of Concord, 
who died in 104G. Nathaniel died in 1738. Nathaniel Page was the 
third of the name in Bedford. Daniel Davis was son of Samuel and 
Mary (Medows), born, 1673. Israel Putnam, cousin of General Israel 
Putnam, born, 1690, was deacon, 1730 ; married daughter of Jonathan 
Racon. Stephen Davis was father of Deacon Stephen, died 1738, John 
Fassett, treasurer, was son of Patrick died 1736, It is a coincidence of 
interest that his brother Samuel, was first treasurer of Westford {Bed- 
ford's twin sister). 



BEDFORD. 



11 



The meeting-house was so nearly completed before 
the act of incorporation was passed that the first town- 
meeting was held in it, and at a second meeting lield 
seven days later "The town excepted of the meting- 
house, as the former commety had agreed witli Joseph 
^itch, for four hundred and sixty pounds." Like 
the houses of worship of the early settlers of New 
England, this ottered but few attractions, save a shel- 
ter from the storms ; but the people niiide haste to 
put it in a more attractive conililioii. At the same 
meeting they chose a committee "To seethe meeting- 
house parfected and finished," and also "provide a 
niinistor." They voted to raise "Forty pound to 
mantain preachin among us," and provided "for a 
Reat of fifteen pound to defray the charges that shall 
be or may a Hies in the Town." Another action of 
the same meeting " was to chous this four men: Mr. 
John Fassett, Mr. Xatlianiel Meriani, Co'. Nathaniel 
Paige, Mr. Josiah Fassett to tacke dedes of the land 
that is for the tow that is given or that is sold." In 
January, 1730, it was voted "to lot out the pue 
groun<l and .seat the meting hous." Tlic instructions 
to the committee were, " The man and his wife to set 
in the pue (excepting deacons), tlier sludl be but one 
poall to an esteat in seating the meting hous and 
pues, and they are to have re.spect to them that are 
fifty years of age or upward; thos that are under fifty 
years of age are to be seated in the meting hous ac- 
ording to ther pay. The front foer seat in the gal- 
eree to be equal witii the third seat below in the body 
of seats." 

The progressive spirit of these early citizens of this 
town is seen in their willingness to allow the sexes 
equal rights in the pews. " Jlen's stairs" and 
" women's stairs " are often referred to in the records, 
but suggest the division among the singers. In the 
absence of a floor-i>lan tiie descriptive location of the 
pews is as follows: "Stephen Davi.s'pue is at the East 
End of the meeting-house, south of the east door going 
to the women's stayers." A committee was soon 
chosen to "treat with Mr. Hancok and with Mr. Ilu- 
gels and Mr. Whiting in order to a fiist, and thay 
appointed a fast on the 22nd day of January, 1729- 
30." The ministers of the neighboring towns assem- 
bled and held a "fast," and a call was soon extended 
to a young man who had been preaching for the peo- 
ple. " Mr. Bowes was choas to be our ministor." 
The town agreed to give him " ninety-five pounds the 
first year, an hundred pounds the second year, and so 
on annually : to give him five and twenty cords of 
wood yearly ; that the money be all wayes in propor- 
tion to its present valuation and credit which is at 
eighteen shillings per ounce, that his salary be paid 
every half year." Mr. Howes also had X200 as a set- 
tlement fee, which was |)artly paid by a deed of six- 
teen acres of land, at £8 per acre. Rev. Nicholas 
Bowes was ordained as the first minister of Hedford, 
July 15, 1730, and the church was organized on the 
same day. Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington (father- 



in-law of Mr. Bowes), was moderator of the council. 
Rev. Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge had a part in the 
service. 

Some time before the church was organized "the 
Brethren had met and proposed to form themselves 
into a state of church relation. They had voted that 
a person on entering the church should give in writ- 
ing a confession of his faith which should be read in 
public. There were twenty-four foundation members. 
The foundation covenant was purely evangelical in 
spirit and the government was strictly of the Congre- 
gational order. The parent towns had equal repre- 
sentation in the new church. 

August 4, 1730, Israel Putnam and Nathaniel Mer- 
riam were chosen deacons, and on the first S.ibbath 
of September following, the ordinance of the Lord's 
Supper was first administered. At the first public 
Thanksgiving service on November 12, 1730, a collec- 
tion was taken for the use of the church amounting 
to £6. "The good people of Concord increased the 
sum and With the Consent of y" Brethren of y" C'', 
The Deacons purchased 1 Table Cloth; 1 Napkin; 2 
Dishes; 1 Fl.aggon ; 2 Pewter Tankards; 1 Bason." 
"Some time after They purchased another Flaggon 
& 2 more Pewter Tankards." 

The town of Bedford was now fully organized and 
in complete running order, both as a municipality 
and an ecclesiastical body, and was early recognized 
as such by the Province and neighboring churches. 
December 23, 1733, the deacons were chosen to rep- 
resent the church at the ordination of Rev. Mr. 
Ebenezer Hancock, of Lexington, and in October, 
173.5, at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Clapp, of Woburn. 
The first recognition from the Province in the way of 
a tax was in 1730, amounting to £20 13.s. 7d. There 
was also assessed the town's proportion of the repre- 
sentative tax in 1729, which was £7 19s. M., the 
minister's salary, the expenses of the ordination of 
Rev. Mr. Bowes, the allowance to Joseph Fassett 
"for time spent at General Court in perfecting our 
township, together with his pocket expenses while 
there," and the county tax, making a tax of £188 9,9. 

The allowance to Jonathan Bacon for his time 
spent "in perfecting our township," was £8 8s. Sd., 
doubtless paid from funds in the treasury. Such a 
drain on the limited income of the early settlers of 
Bedford must have been a severe trial of their cour- 
age, and especially hard after the town tax of the first 
year of their existence as a municipality. In 1729 
they paid "a Meting-houes Reat of £.300 8s. 3d.," and 
a "town and minister Reat of £.")1 ^5s. -id." There 
is no evidence that more than two voters lost courage, 
and they were refused an abatement of their proportion 
of the tax. 

There are but few of the farms of the town that re- 
main in the same family possession as at the incorpo- 
ration and only two instances where the descent of 
possession has not occasioned a change in the surname 



12 



BEDFORD. 



of the possessor. The estate owned by Josiah Davis 
has been in the family and name since 1G96, when 
purchased by Samuel Davis (son of Dolor), one of the 
pioneers of Concord. It has passed through six gen- 
erations from Samuel, in each of which there has been 
an Eleazer. Thirty-eight children in five generations 
of the name of Davis have been born on this estate. 

The estate held by the heirs of Cyrus Page was 
purchased by Nathaniel Page in 1C87. The present 
owners are of the eighth generation. The original 
dwelling is still .standing. Mrs. Sarah Sampson owns 
and occupies the estate that came into the family 
possession about 173.S, she is of the fourth generation 
of the family of Zachariah Fitch. 

Lands on the Concord side of Bedford are still held 
by de.scendants of William Harlwell, who was 
among the pioneers of Concord, and the homestead 
was held in the family name and occupied by Hart- 
wells continuously for two hundred years. The 
present house was erected in 17.58. 

The homestead of Benjamin Filch has been held 
in the family and name since 17.30, and the "corne- 
mill" of King Philip's War, on the Shawshine River, 
is still identified by modern buildings, but has passed 
from the family pos.se.ssion. Job B. Lane owns and 
occupies a portion of the Winthrop Farm that was 
purchased by Job Lane in 1604 and divided by his 
heirs in 1697. 

"Stone Croft Farm," owned by MLss Caroline M. 
Fitch, came to the family by purchase in 1766. The 
dwelling was built about 1700. The mill site, on 
Vine Brook, near Shawshine River, was occupied by 
John Wilson as early as 1663. 

The site of the first meeting-house is very nearly 
identified by the .second, which is now standing. 



CHAPTER III. 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 



Relatum of First Church and Town — hiimoisiim of liev. Nkholas Boices — 
First Bfil — Miiivtlrij nf li'ev. Nuthaitiel Sherman and Rev. Jose^ih Pftnn- 



The ecclesiastical and municipal relations of the 
town are so thoroughly interwoven for the first cen- 
tury of her history that it is difficult to separate them . 
but as it is our purpose to briefly sketch the town's 
history, topically rather than in chronological order, 
we shall aim to treat of the social and political rela- 
tions separate from spiritual and religious, now that 
we have combined the two sufficiently to show the 
steps of organization. By the early Provincial laws 
every tract of territory, when becoming a town, by 
the same act became a parish ; hence the town of 
Bedford for little more than a century was the parish. 
They provided for the support of the Gospel at the 



same meeting in which they made provision for 
building and repairing highways. 

In our effort to separate the relations we shall class 
all that pertained to the house or service of worship 
as ecclesiastical. 

The first three pastorates of the town were cut short 
for obvious reasons. Rev. Nicholas Bowes, the first 
pastor, was graduated at Harvard College in 1725, 
and ordained July 1."), 1730, and was dismissed Au- 
gust 22, 1754, after a ministry of twenty-four years. 
Mr. Bowes came to the new town of Bedford under 
many flattering circumstances. He married Miss 
Lucy (Lucie) Hancock, the young and accomplished 
daughter of Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington. Soon 
after locating in Bedford, Mr. Bowes built a res-idence 
on the land deeded him by the town as a part of his 
settlement fee. It is now standing, and is a stately 
mansion, reminding one of the superior dignity at- 
tached to the pastoral office of that day. Eight chil- 
dren were born to Rev. Nicholas and Lucy Bowes 
while in this town. William, the oldest, born De- 
cember 3, 1734, was baptized four days later by his 
grandfather. Rev. John Hancock. They all lived to 
maturity with the exception of Thomas, who died at 
the age of two years, eleven months. Of the pastoral 
acts of Mr. Bowes but little is known. The church 
and town grew and flourished; 161 were admitted to 
the church, and there were 303 baptisms. The rite 
was administered to ail who owned the covenant and 
their children. Confessions were publicly made, but 
not carried to so great an extreme as in many New 
England churches. Intemperance and theft were 
frequently confessed. Mr. Bowes, together with nine 
other ministers in the vicinity of Cambridge, refused 
to admit Rev. George Whitefield to their pulpits in 
174'), because of his denunciation of Harvard College 
and many New England clergymen. Through some 
indiscreet acts the pastor's usefulness was brought to 
a close, and satisfactory confession being made, he 
was dismi.ssed, and it was voted — "That he be owned 
and treated as a brother in good standing and char- 
ity." He could not have lost his influence in the 
town, as he was employed to teach the school in 
the following winter. In 1755 he was chaplain in 
the Northern Army, at Fort Edward, and died at 
Brookficld on his return home. But little more is 
known of his family, save that his daughter Lucy 
went to live with her maternal grandmother, the 
widow of Rev. John Hancock, and there made the 
acquaintance of her grandfather's successor, Rev. 
Jonas Clark, of Lexington, and became his wife. 
The estate was sold to John Reed, and still remains 
in the family. It was near the close of the first pas- 
torate before the town purchased a bell. In April, 
1753, " 'Voted, to buy a bell not exceeding six hun- 
dred nor less than five hundred pound weight." They 
also "voted to build a house of sufficient height 
to hang the mouth of the bell sixteen feet from the 
ground." The " Bell-house " was some rods from the 



BEDFORD. 



13 



meeting-house. The bell was ready for use at the 
time of the dismission of the first minister, and in the 
treasurer's accounts of that year, Deacon Israel Put- 
nam is charfjcd with an order " for lamb for the 
council and lieinp for the bell-rope, 5 shillings." The 
meeting-house wa.s the slirine of these early settlers, 
doubly precious because of their great sacrifice to 
erect it, and because of the great distance formerly 
traveled to reach the house of God. On April 5, 1731, 
they voted "that it sliould bcswept six times a year," 
and Deacon Israel I'utnain performed the service for 
ten shilliugs a year. In ITl.'J the pay was increa.sed to 
£1 15s., "Old Tenor." and .Tohn Mansfield hired to 
sweep it twelve times a year and "attend to opening 
and shutting the doors." In 1783 the young men 
were refused the " hind seat in the gallery," and the 
pew next to the puli)it stairs was made " a ministerial 
pew." 

The town and church concurred in extending a 
call to Rev. Nathaniel Sherman, and he was ordained 
February IS, 1750, " having preached twenty -six Sab- 
beths, one Fast and one Thanksgiving" during his 
candidacy. lie was given, as a settlement fee, £1 13 G.<. 
8'/., and an annual salary of £53 6s. Si!., and twenty 
cords of wood annually, " after he shall come to need 
it for his own firing." 

Mr. Sherman was brother of Roger Sherman, the 
distinguished patriot of Connecticut, and endowed 
with both talent ami culture. As a young, unmar- 
ried man he entered the work of the gospel ministry 
in this place. He married Lydia Merriam, March 1, 
1759. She was the daughter of Deacon Nathanial 
Merriam, of this town. They had three children 
born here, one of whom, Thaddeus, died August 22, 
17ii5. Mr. Sherman was a num of feeble health, and 
labored under diliiculties. Notwithstaiuling the oft- 
repeated breaks in hi.s labors, his pastorate w:is re- 
garded as very successful — forty-six were admitted to 
church and sixty-seven were baptized by him. It 
was during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Sherman that 
Hugh Ma.\well, of IJedford, consecrated himself to 
the service of Christ and became the " Christian 
Patriot," whose biograiihy, published in 1830, is a 
most in.spiring work. 

A controversy arose in the churches of New Eng- 
land, about the time of the settlement of Jlr. Sher- 
man, concerning the " half-way covenant," by which 
persons were admitted to the privilege of baptism 
without admission to the communion. November fi, 
17G5, the Bedford church voted " that there should be 
but one church covenant." Faith in Christ, repent- 
ance for sin, holiness and a belief in the Assembly's 
Catechism were reipiired of all candidates. 

Some of the changes were unpopular ; the affections 
of the people were alienated from the piistor, and the 
relations entered upon for life were brought to a close. 
Upon the request of the pastor an ecclesiastical 
council was called and gave advice in the matter, in 
which the town concurred. The record of the 



church is : " Upon the request of the Rev. Nathaniel 
Sherman, the church then dismissed him as a brother of 
the church and recommended him to the Church of 
Christ in Mount Carmel, New Haven." He was in- 
stalled there and preached many years. He died at 
East Windsor, July 18, 1797, aged seventy-three years. 

The dismission of Rev. Mr. Sherman caused not 
only the severing of pastoral and social relations, but 
family ties were sundered, and the town had no 
settleil minister for a period of three j'ears, during 
which time the church agreed upon the terms of 
communion as follows: " This church will have but 
one covenant and therefore require the same qualifi- 
cations in all ; yet if any person can desire to enter 
into covenant and receive baptism for himself or 
children, and yet fears to approach the Lord's table at 
present, he shall be received, he promising (though he 
come not immediately to the Lord's table) that he 
will submit to the watch and discipline of the 
church." 

Rev. Joseph Penniman w.as the third minister of 
the town, ordained M.ay 22, 1771. He received a set- 
tlement fee of 133 ami an annual salary of £66 13^. 
■ill., and fire wood. 

In planning for the service of ordination the town 
voted " that the day should be religiously observed 
throughout the town in accordance with the solemnity 
of the occasion ;" determined .as much as in them lay 
to prevent " all Levity, I'rophainness, music, Danc- 
ing and frolicking and other disorders on "* Day." A 
committee of five was chosen " to open the meeting- 
house and to keep the seats below the deacons' seat 
and town's pew for the church and council." A new 
p.astorate was an occasion for advanced steps: 1773 
"Voted to bring in Doct. Watt's versions for the 
present, and to have Messrs. .Jeremiah Fitch and 
•Tames Wright sett in the fore seat in the front gallery 
as they are appointed to begin the Psalm or tune.'' 
The fluctuation in the currency of the country 
tnade it necessary for the town to grant relief to their 
p.astor, and in.l780 the town voted "to grant Rev. 
Mr. Penniman one hundred bushels of grane, fifty 
of Rye and fifty of Indian Corn." The people mani- 
fested their gratitude for a successful termination of 
the Revolutionary struggle by repairingtheir meeting- 
house. It w.as then clap-boarded and covered with a 
coating of" Bedford Yellow," a .sort of mineral paint 
found in the town. The old beli and bell-house were 
also repaired. Like the people of the town, they had 
seen hard service during the war. 

The bell had sounded the alarm on April 19, 1775 ; 
rung for liberty when the Colonies declared their inde- 
pendence ; pealed forth its notes of rejoicing over the 
surrender at Yorktown, and by its cracked tongue 
and faltering notes, most fittingly suggested the suffer- 
ings of the people during the war, in its final attempt 
to swell the volume of thanksgiving, following the 
treaty of September 3, 1783. The pastorate of Rev. 
Mr. Penniman covered the years of struggle for free- 



14 



BEDFORD. 



dom from the mother country, and was successful in 
many respects. Forty-one were added to the cluircli 
and one luindrcd and eighty-three baptisms are re- 
corded during his ministry. 

Some of the public acts of Mr. Tenniman gave evi- 
dence of extreme eccentricity, which increased by 
repetition until the church took the following action 
July 12, ]70a: 

"Thediiirch met at Deacon James Wright's and 
held a conference with each other respecting the un- 
christianlil^e behaviour of their Pastor, Mr. Joseph 
Penniman, the last Lord's day, it being communion 
day, and every member of said church being grieved 
thereat." 

The conference resulted at length in the dismission 
of Mr. Penniman October 29, 1793. In the light of 
the present, it would be declared that strong drink 
caused the trouble. Rev. Joseph Penniman was born 
in Braintree, and graduated at Harvard College in 
17G5; after his dismission he removed from Bedford to 
Harvard, where he died. He was possessed of re- 
spectable talents. Social customs of his time aggra- 
vated natural eccentricities and led to extreme pecu- 
liarities of expression, particularly in public prayer. 
At the funeral service of his townsman, Captain Jon- 
athan Wilson, who was killed at Concord, April 19, 
1775, he is said to have uttered the following : " We 
pray thee, O Lord, to send the Britisli Soldiers where 
they will do some good, for Thou knowest that we 
have no use for them about here." When visiting 
the school of the town he is said to have used the fol- 
lowing expression in prayer: "We pray thee, O 
Lord, tliat lliese children m.ay be well trained at homo, 
for if tliey are not, they will .act like Sarpints when 
they are abroad." The act that led the churcli to 
close the doors of the meeting-house against the 
pastor brought the town into public reproach. While 
the people were seriously considering the circum- 
stances a rougish fellow jilacarded the doors of the 
meeting-house with the following brief summary of 
affairs : 

" A wicked priest, a cruolied people, 
A cradted bell without a eteeplo," 

The bill for entertaining the Council at the dis- 
mission of Mr. Penniman amounted to £33 Os. 4(/. 2/ 
There were born to Rev. ]\Ir. Penniman and Hannah 
Jackson, his wife, while in Bedford, four children, 
two of whom died here and were buried in the old 
cemetery. The epitaphs now seen upon the crum- 
bling headstones are most suggestive of the peculiar- 
ities of the father. They are (juoted in this con- 
nection : 

"Deceiiil>er23, 1700, Hannah, daugliter of Kev. Joseph PenniDiau 
and HiiDiiKh. hiu wife, aged 18 yra,, 4 mos., 11 daya. 

" Ah I now, no notice do you give 
Where you are and how you live I 
What I are you then bound by solemn fate. 
To keep the secret of your state ? 
The alarming voice you will hear, 
WhonChrist, the Judge, shall appear. 



Hannah I from the dark lonely vault, 

Certainly soon and suddenly you'll come. 

When Jesus shall claim the treasure from the tomb.' 

August 21, 1778, Molly, aged 3 yrs., C mo., 3 days. 

" .\h I dear I'oUy, must your tender parents mourn, 
Their heavy loas, and bathe with tears your urn. 
Since now no more to ns you must return.'" 



CHAPTER IV. 



ECCLESIASTICAL. 



The Clerijy of New Etujland — Rtv. Samiul Steams — Pnge and Hartwell 
Ftntd — IVill of A)iua Paije — New 3[eetimj-honse — l:<uujhig-t<chOL'l — Sub- 
balli-School 

The clergy of New England, in its early years, 
constituted what may be styled an educated aristoc- 
racy and to a large degree circumscribed their order 
by intermarriage. The common people were so bur- 
dened in their struggles with the Indians and with 
foreign nations, together with their eflbrts to subdue 
the wilderness and maintain their families, that bat 
little time was left them for self-culture. Their edu- 
cation was limited and they relied upon the clergy 
for much of their moral and religious sentiment. 
The fourth minister was Rev. Samuel Stearns and the 
last called by the town in its parochial capacity. He 
was ordained April 27, 1796. Mr. Stearns was a 
grand type of the New England clergy. He was the 
son of a minister, and his paternal and maternal an- 
cestry were of the clerical profession. He had inher- 
ited a truly pious spirit and was possessed of a firm 
and decided nature. He was a graduate of Harvard 
College and studied theology with Rev. Jonathan 
French, of Andover, whose eldest daughter (Abigail) 
he married, May 7, 1797, " a lady of rare fortitude, 
energy, intelligence and practical wisdom, as well as 
piety." For nearly thirty-seven years Rev. Samuel 
Stearns was the teacher, leader and undoubted-friend 
of this entire people, and no one person ever did 
more in this town to mould the character of the ris- 
ing generation and lead the passing generation "into 
green pastures and beside the still waters of eternal 
peace." During this ministry so many reforms were 
introduced and grand changes made in both secular 
and religious affairs that they cannot be hastily 
passed by. In preparing for the ordination of the 
fourth ministerthe town voted to take down the cracked 
and useless bell, "sell the bell-house at public vendue, 
level the ground on the south side of the meeting- 
house and prop up the galleries." Interested people 
flocked from the neighboring towns; families of two 
or three, mounted on the back of one horse, were 
seen galloping in from different quarters and the 
meeting-house was filled long before the hour ap- 
pointed for the service. The Common was covered 
with booths in which the venders of food and various 



BEDFORD. 



15 



wares carried on a lively business. Rev. Jonathan 
French, of Andover, preached the sermon. His text 
was iHuiah .\1. 1-5. The new pastor bought the 
estate occupied by his immediate predecessor in office 
and settled in the midst of his people. The large 
mansion-house which he occupied during his life and 
the surrounding acres are still in the possession of 
the family. Mr. Stearns received from the town as a 
"settlement" eight hundred and lifty dollars and an 
annual salary of three hundred and thirty-three and 
one-third dollars and twenty cords of fire-wood. 
Tlirougli a depreciation in currency the salary was 
changed at ditVerent times until it reached five hun- 
dred dollars per aiinnni. Mr. Stearns also liad a loan 
from the town of one thousand dollars, without inter- 
est, from 1801 till his death. The new minister's 
regard for order and system began to make an im- 
pression at once, as the church and town records 
plainly show. The custom of public confession of 
certain sins wiW abandoned and cases of discipline 
were conducted with the best of judgment. There 
was one ciise that kept the church and town in a state 
of disturbance for years and involved many import- 
ant questions and resulted in cold-blooded murder. 
The light of the present has a mitigating eflVct on the 
case, for had the ]iresenl scientific and humane treat- 
ment of incipient insanity been in pnictice the sad 
act miglit have been averted. Mr. Stearns was pos- 
sessed of a fine musical talent, having a rich tenor 
voice, which contributed to awaken an interest for 
music in the town, particularly in sacred music. In 
May, I79S, the town voteil "that the four pews in the 
front gallery are assigned to the use of the singers." 
A tuning-pipe keyed on A was then in use and held 
as a valuable piece of the town's property. November 
179cS, the town appropriated twenty dollars for sing- 
ing-school. In 1815 the town's viol was placed in 
the hands of Deacon James Wright, " for the purpose 
of assisting in taking lead in sacred music." Mr. 
Stearns never voted in town affairs, but was conducted 
to the place of meeting by the selectmen and began 
proceedings with prayer, after which he retired. 

September 6, 1812, the town chose a committee " to 
receive the donations given to the town by the widow 
Anna Page and Mr. William Page, deceased, and to 
tiike care of and apply the use of the same, agreeable 
to the wills of the donors." By these wills and that 
of Samuel Hartwell, probated in 1822, " The Page 
and Hartwell Fund" was created. The following is 
the preamble an<l clause relating to the town in the 
will of Anna Page. The others are simil.ar in expres- 
sion and provision : 

" III the namo of Cud, Anion. 

"I, Aiinu Pftge, widuw ami relict uf Tliomtid t'lige, late of Ileiiford, 
In the County uf MidilleHex and ('omuiolivvealth i>f M;u48achudett3, Yeo- 
man, (leceiiHeil. ... 1 humbly commit and commend my soul to God 
my Creiltor, in und through JetiUa Christ my Redeemer, whose righfeuus- 
nesa and grice are all my hope for imnlon aii<I eternal salvation. My 
Body 1 recommend to a chiistian huriul at the diacretioo of my Kxecu- 
tor iD tbe blessed hope of a joyful reaurrection at the last day. . , . ' 



" Taking Into consideration the vast importance and necessity of sup- 
porting the Gospel ministry, it is my will that after my Executor shall 
liave i«iid all tile foregoing leagacys— all debts, bills of cost and 
charge of every kind.— all the remainder of my estate of any ki:id and 
wherever found, lie appropriated to that use, and accordiii;i;ly I ilu here- 
by give and bequeath said remainder to the town of Bedfurd as a fund 
to aid in the support of tlie Gospel ministry, to he disposed of iu the 
manner following. That is to say : The capital of the fund shall be put 
and always kept on interest, upon good security — with sufficient sureties 
for the same. Oiio-si.vth part of the income arising therefrom shall ho 
aiimiftlly added to the principal as an increasing fund forever— the other 
five sixth parts of the annual income to he appropiiated annually in aid 
of tlie support of the Gospel iiiiiiistry in tlie present standing order or 
congregiUional order forever, and no part of .said fund shall ever bo ap- 
propriated in aid or support of any otiier than the present standing 
congregational order forever, and no part of the said fund shall over lie ap- 
propriated iu aid of any suit at law or any contention whatever, and my 
will further is, (hut three persons, all belonging to the church, shall be 
annually chosen by the town as a coinmitlee to take care of the said 
fund, and that a Hook shall be kept by the town clerk, for the time 
being in which shall be fairly entered lliis clause in my will and also 
the capital of the fund and the annual income thereof together with the 
annual appropriations ami expenditures of said income, to be kept open 
for tlie perusal of all persons therein concerned forever — but my will 
further is, that whenever the income of the said fund shall lie more (lian 
sufficient for the support of the Gospel ministry in Bedford, the re- 
mainder of the income of said fund shall be appropriated to supptirt the 
Poor, Teaching Sacred Music, and the support of Schools or Public 
buililiiigs, and my will I'lirther is, the said siiiii, whatever it may be 
found to be, shall be paid by my Kxeciitor to the committee to be chosen for 
the above purpose, iu two yeai-s after my decease, and a true reporl of the 
said fund, witli the annual appropriation and expenditure tliereol", shall 
bo annually made to the town by the Oonimiltee having the care of the 
same forever, whicli report shall be recorded by the town clerk iu the 
Book which is kept by him for that purpose forever. 

'* Dated, signed and sealed, February twenty-third, 1810. 

"Anna Paqe." 

The town being residuary legatee received from the 
estateof Anna Page $G('i3.93. The Samuel Hartwell 
legacy was $',H)0, and that from William Page was 
$500. For some years the trustees of these funds 
were chosen in town-meeting and the record-book 
was kept by the town clerk, but for the last half-cen- 
tury the First Parish has appointed the custodians 
and the Unitarian Church received the income. The 
"Page & Hartwell Fund" (now 188!)) amounts to 
$2091.78. The church received by the will of Anna 
Page a solid silver flagon, costing $140, and by vote 
of the church a second flagon was procured at the 
same cost. A silver cup was donated by Mrs. Hannah 
Merriam. By other donations and purchases the 
church was now furnished with an elegant solid silver 
communion service in place of the pewter dishes thus 
far used. Rev. Samuel Stearns was kindly remem- 
bered by this trio of public benefactors. The irreg- 
ularity of the windows in the meeting-house is sug- 
gested by votes like the following : September 3, 1804, 
voted, " To allow Mr. Jeremiah Fitch to put a window 
in his pew in the northwest corner of the meeting- 
house iu any part thereof." M.ay 19, 17S3, voted, 
" To allow Timothy Jones the liberty to put in aglass 
window in the meeting-house on the back side of his 
pew at his own cost." With the exceptions of such ad- 
ditions the people were contented in the old house of 
worship, but the great " September gale " of 1815 de- 
vastated the noble forests, and hundreds of stately 
pines lay prostrate. The people seized upon this as 



16 



BEDFORD. 



an opportunity for procuring lumber at a reasonable 
rate, and tlie town voted to build a new meeting- 
house. The last service in the old house was in July, 

1816, and in the following week the frame was 
stripped and demolished — such timbers as could be 
utilized were selected for the new house. 

The frame was prepared and put together on the 
ground and juilled into place a side at a time, bj' the 
assembled multitude, who had gathered on the morn- 
ing of July 8th, and at the appearance of the sun 
were ready for the order " Bear it up." On the 
17tli of the same month the ]ieople assembled for 
a service of Thanksgiving on the floor of the iiew 
house. When the house was completed, the town 
chose a committee — 

*' To appniiso tlie pewa by assessing the whole expense of biiiUling said 
house, inchuh'ng extra bills, etc. (levelling theeoninion anil hanging the 
belloxceiitod), on the game according to rank and situation of said [lews. 
. . It was further voted ' that no town-meetings nor trainings or choos- 
ing militia otlic'i^ shall ever he held or done in the meeting house, and 
no other town buslDess shall be done in said house, except by permission 
of the Belectineu for the time being, and that this vote shall be annexed 
to llie article for the sale of the pews.' * No person shall hang his hai. 
on any post or on the wall of the house, or on any other machine about 
the railing of the pews on the lower floor, iu the body of s'' meefing- 
hovise, nor on the front of the galleries, nor on the walls in the gal- 
leries.'" 

The house was dedicated July 8, 1817. Eev. Sam- 
uel Stearns, the pastor, preached the sermon, which 
was, later, |niblishedin pamphlet form. This was the 
first dedication service held in the town, it being con- 
trary to the New England spirit and custom when 
the first house of worship was completed. 

James Wright, Jr., was appointed to the responsi- 
ble position of "sexton." His duties were carefully 
defined, not the least of which was "to carry into the 
house the basin of water for the ordinance of baptism, 
when requested." 

The bell, imported from London by Jeremiah Fitch 
for the town, was first rung on the morning of July 8, 

1817. Mr. Fitch contributed the clock to the town, 
which is ornamented with a gold-mounted eagle 
and balls, and still marks oil' the hours in the 
meeting-house; but the bell, being rudely handled 
in a seeming display of patriotism, was rendered 
useless and sold in 1863, by the First Parish, and 
has not been replaced. The cost of the meeting- 
house was $0623. The pews sold for a sum sufli- 
cient to liquidate the debt, and left a balance 
of $487, which was assigned for a ministerial fund, 
by a vote of the town. The " Page Fund '' was 
of use in providing an annual singing-school, and in 
1818 Leander Hosmer was employed by the town " To 
perform sacred music for said town for ten dollars pr. 
year, on a Bass Viol, and furnish himself with a viol." 

In July, 1818, a Sabbath-School was organized, 
which proved to be one of the first Church-scnools in 
the country, the history of which, prepared by the 
author of this sketch, was published by the Trini- 
tarian Sabbath-school, in connection with the celebra- 
tion of its seventieth anniversary in 1888. 



CHAPTER V 



ECCLICSIASTK'AI 



Separaluill Between Clnirck and Ti>wii—Trinitarian-Co»gregaiioiial Societn 
Ortjani-.ed — Tlifir House of WorshiiJ—Work of Vititariatt Church aud 
First Parish—Deitth of liev. Samuel SteanisStearns'' Descendants — 
CJilirch of Christ. 

Prosperity followed the erection of the meeting- 
house, aud peace and harmony prevailed until the 
autumn of 1831, when a difference in opinion, which 
had for years existed between the Trinitarian and 
Unitarian Congregationalists of New England, 
reached that point here, where the relation between 
the pastor and people was most severely tried. The 
love of the pastor of this town for his people, and 
their strong attachment for the one who had given 
the best of his life in their service, the regard of 
man}' for his feelings in his declining years, together 
with the unswerving fidelity of the pastor to the prin- 
ciples that he had proclaimed when ordained for the 
Gospel ministry in this town thirty-five years before, 
may be assigned as .some of the reasons for the severity 
with which the storm beat upon the community. 
The church was rent asunder, and the remainder of 
the ecclesiastical history of the town, as regards the 
Protestant faith, will be viewed in two separate chan- 
nels, viz. : The First Parish with the Unitarian 
Church and The Trinitarian Congregational Society 
with the Church of Christ. The First Parish, and 
church connected with it, held the meeting-house, 
all of the fuiid.s and communion service, while the 
Trinitarian Congregational Society and as.sociated 
church began their work with empty hands. June 4, 
1833, the two resident male members of the church 
who remained with the First Parish met and clmse 
as trustees William Page and Charles Spaulding, and 
adopted a new covenant, and accessions were ni.tde to 
their numbers. After the stated supply of Rev. Mr. 
Davis and Rev. Robert Walcott, Rev. Joshua Chand- 
ler, a'graduate of Harvard College, was settled over 
the church and society. He was .succeeded by Rev. 
George W. Woodward. In May, 1846, he removed to 
Galena, Illinois, and a series of stated supplies fol- 
lowed — the last of whom was Rev. Jonas Whitman, 
pastor at Lexington, who continued in charge until 
his death, in 1848. Services were then discontinued 
and the house of worship clo.sed, until it was remod- 
eled in 1849. 

In April of that year Rev. William Cushing ac- 
cepted a call to act as stated supply. Mr. Cushing 
took a great interest in education, conducting a pri- 
vate school in connection with his pastoral work; his 
successor was Rev. George W. Webster, who was in- 
stalled as pastor in August, 1860. Extreme peculi- 
arities, tending to mental disease, impaiied his use- 
fulness, and after a year aud a half, during which the 




OLD PARISH MEETING HOUSE. 



BEDFORD. 



17 



church and society relaxed in vitality, he left the 
charjre ami entered the Union army from this town. 
The house of worship was closed for a period of 
twelve years. It was reopened in the autumn of 
1869, and Rev. Grindall Reynolds took charge of the 
parish in connection with his pastorate at Concord. 
His call to the position of secretary of the Unitarian 
Association necessitated a change. Revs. Milstead 
and Ku.ssell acted as stated supply until 1884, when 
Rev. tieorge Piper assumed the pastoral care of the 
society in connection with that at Carlisle. During 
his pastorate the meeting-house has been thoroughly 
remodeled, the church revived, and the ordinances 
regularly observed. In addition to the income of the 
"Page and llartwell Fund" the society is aided by 
the Unitarian Association. 

The Trinitarian Congregational Society immedi- 
ately erected a hon.se of worship on land given by Mr. 
Jeremiah Fitch, of Boston, a native of Bedford. The 
building-lot was directly opposite the Stearns man- 
sion, and was given iu consideration of the regard ot 
the donor for his neiglibor, teacher, pa.stor and friend. 

The relation between Rev. Mr. Stearns and the 
town was dissolved by a mutual ecclesiastical council, 
and he accepted a call from the Church of Christ and 
Trinitarian Congregational Society of the town, in 
their united capacity. Services were regularly held 
in the dwelling-house of Rev. Mr. Stearns until the 
society completed a meeting-house. Mrs. Hannah 
Reed presented the church with a suitable commun- 
ion service. Many of the citizens, who had but fii- 
teen years before, 1818, paid large sums for their 
pews in the town's meeting-house, had now freely 
given a tithing of their possessions for the erection of 
another house of worship, and, free from debt, the 
church and society resumed the work of proclaiming 
the gospel in the Evangelical faith. Rev. Mr. Stearns 
died in December, 1834, and the fourth and most 
notable pastorate was brought to a close. 

The body of Rev. .Mr. Stearns was interred iu the 
family vault in the old burial-ground, and there re- 
mained until the death of his widow. Madam Abigail 
Stearns, iu 1858, when they were both deposited in 
cemented vaults on the western slope of Shawshine 
Cclnetery. 

Oftliirloeniliildreii born to Rev. Samuel Stearns and 
.Vbig.iil French, eleven reached maturity. No other 
Bedford family has exerted so great an influence in the 
world of letters. They ail received the highest advan- 
tages for education that the schools atTorded. The iive 
sons were all educated at Phillips Academy, Andover, 
and at Harvard College, and the four who became 
clergymen attended Andover Theological Seminary. 
<lf thirty one grandchildren twenty-three are living. 
Almost all have received a liberal education. Of the 
grandsons, two are professional men and one an artist 
of rare ability ; five granddaughters became teachers, 
four married professional men ; a number are au- 
thors of books or writers for leading periodicals. The 



descendants in the third and fourth generations are 
numerous and prominent in the world. 

The young man who, in the flush of youth, dedi- 
cated himself to the higher interests of the people ot 
Bedford, had become old in their service and been 
gathered with the fathers. More than five hundred 
people of the town died and the entire membership ot 
his church had been gathered during his ministry. 
There were admitted to the church one hundred and 
forty-three members while worshiping in the new 
meeting-house, before the separation. 

Rev. Jonathan Leavitt succeeded Rev. Mr. 
Stearn.s, and has been followed by Rev. S. Hopkins 
Emery ; Rev. Oren Sikes, who died in oflice Decem- 
ber 1"), 1852; Rev. Henry J. Patrick, now of West 
Xewton; Rev. W. .1. Bait, now moral instructor at 
the Massachusetts Reformatory ; Rev. George Lewis ; 
Rev. Edward Chase ; Rev. Otis D. Crawford ; Rev. 
George E. Lovejoy, now of Franklin, Mass. ; Rev. 
Howard A. Hanaford, now of Winchester, N. H., and 
Rev. Edwin Smith, who took the charge August 1, 
188(). 

The church has a present membership of one hun- 
dred and eighty. That element in our nature which 
leads us to value things in proportion to their cost 
was plainly evident in the careful manner with which 
the people of this town who formed the Trinitarian 
Congregational Society guarded its interests, and 
that healthy activity that is generally found among 
societies that depend entirely upon their own efforts 
for support has been manifest through the half-cen- 
tury of its existence. No ministerial fund has been 
established. Small legacies bequeathed to the church 
have been applied to the promotion of the work and 
memorials of the donors added to the oruaments of the 
house of worship. In 188G the house was repaired, 
enlarged and refurnished to suit the demands of the 
times, about ^7000 being expended. 

Adherents of the Romish Church have gradually 
settled in town, constituting a very respectable class 
in society, among whom may be found some of the 
most thriving tarmers. Becoming weary of a journey 
of five miles to attend worship (as were the first set- 
tlers of the t(iwn), they erected a chapel in 1885, which 
is well furnished and adapted to their use ; they main- 
tain religious services in connection with the church 
at Lexington, Rev. P. J. Kavanaugh being the priest 
iu charge. 



CHAPTER VI. 



SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES. 



One of the highest of the municipal functions is 
education. This was incumbent upon the founders of 
Bedford by the act of incorporation : "Provided that 
the said town of Bedford do, withiu the space of three 



18 



BEDFORD. 



years from the publication of this act, erect, build and 
finish a suitable house of worship, and procure and 
settle a learned orthodox minister of good conversa- 
tion, and make provision for his comfortable and hon- 
ourable support, and likewise provide a school to in- 
struct their youth in writing and reading," Many of 
the founders of this town knew the worth of education 
through the want of it. Their parents had enjoyed 
literary advantages in the mother country, but in 
seeking religious liberty they had lost secular advan- 
tage, and in their struggle to establish homes in the 
wilderness had often failed to instruct their children in 
the rudiments of education. The childreu of the 
scattered settlers were by far the greater sufferers ; sit- 
uated four or five miles from the village, they could 
not attend the fevi weeks of school that were furnished, 
and doubtless some of the originators of this town 
never attended a school of any kind. Until 1733 the 
church was the only school, and during several suc- 
ceeding years the principal means of education. The 
minister was the instructor, and he wa* well supported. 
In January, 1732-33 the town raised five pounds, equal 
to about tiiree dollars (according to Shattuck), for pub- 
lic school that year. This must have been an act of 
the new town to comply with the incorporation act — 
"space of three years" — and have been a provision 
for the winter only, as appears from the following 
record : "Of the School Reat that was made by the 
assessors in 1733, there was committed to Mr. Jacob 
Kendall, constable, to collect £5 10s. 7d., and to Mr. 
Richard Wheeler £5 10«. 2(1.," making a tax of £11 G«. 
9rf., which, according to the same authority, was equal 
to about seven dollars in the currency of that time. 
In December, 1733, it was voted "to settle a moving 
school and hire a master, for wliich purpose an ap- 
propriation often pounds was made. 

For several years one school only was kept and 
moved about as justice and convenience demanded. 
The teachers were generally selected from the people 
of the town, but in one of the early winters. Rev. 
Ebenezer Hancock, of Lexington, taught the school 
and boarded with his sister, wife of Rev. Nicholas 
Bowes. The town bought a dwelling-house of Benja- 
min Kidder in 1741, for £12, old tenor, and arranged 
it for a school-liouse. In 1742 the school moved into 
the four quarters of the town, and £10 was expended 
for the teacher's salary, he "boarding round.'' In 
the following year the centre school was opened and 
£30 granted for its support. Previous to this but little 
attention was paid to giving instruction in any branch 
beyond those required by the ordinance of 1647, viz. : 
writing and reading. In 1744 a part of the appropri- 
ation was allowed for schools in the " quarters '' to be 
taught by "school dames." In the succeeding four- 
teen years a school was kept at the Centre a few weeks 
in the winter and during the remainder of the year a 
" moving-school " was taught by a lady. Text-books 
were few and rule and the rod was applied without 
stint. One may judge of the monetary value of pro- 



fessional services by the records of 1754-55, wlien 
Rev. Nicholas Bowes, the first minister of the town, 
dismissed in August 1754, taught the school in 
the following winter, five months for £9 6s. 8d., and 
boarded himself In 1758 a "writing-school" was 
kept four months in the village and a " woman's teach- 
ing-.school " six months in the quarters of the town, 
although it was years in advance of the legal require- 
ments. The interest in education was not abated 
during the Revolution, yet in two instances the 
teachers' services were gratuitous. Intelligent women 
gathered the children of the neighborhood in their 
ilwellings and were rewarded by a vole of the town 
after the war ceased. 

The people in the " quarters '' were obliged to fur- 
nish house and fire-wood without public charge in 
order to have a school. The district bounds were 
not arbitrary as yet, and the most ambitious children 
would ibllow the school from one quarter to another, 
which was allowed if they furnished a share of the 
fire-wood. The consequent attainments and useful- 
ness of'some families is evident in succeeding years. 

In 1780, when Captain John Bloore was chosen the 
first representative to the " Great and General Court," 
the town voted to have three months " writing-school " 
and six weeks " women's school '' in each quarter of 
the town. The term " writ! ng-.school " was to desig- 
nate this department of education from the merely 
fundamental instruction of the " women's school." 
In the former " cyphering " was taught as well 
as writing, and also the principles of language 
and "decent behaviour." The "sums" were "set" 
by the teacher and the work done on unruled coarse 
paper and carefully saved as trophies of victory sel- 
dom won by the gentler sex. In teaching writing, the 
instructor was required to prepare the copies, give 
advice in the formation of letters and also respond to 
the oft-repeated calls " Please sir, mend my pen?" In 
March, 1790, there was a partial awakening to the 
demands of systematic education. The school-tax 
was assessed as a distinct rate, and the town voted 
that "such school ma.sters as the law required" 
should be employed four months in the year, and 
tour months writing-school should be kept at the 
centre, " and when the master had a very full school 
he should attend principally to those that write and 
cypher." 

In 1789 the Legislature provided for districting the 
towns, and Bedford undertook the task, which proved 
to be a difficult one. Forsixty years the only accommo- 
dations for schools in the " quarters " were in private 
houses; but in 1792 a long and trying experience 
resulted in a vote to raise £100 with which to build 
a school-house in each quarter and made provision 
for a school to be taught in each. In 1793 the i)ride 
of the residents at the " centre " asserted itself in a 
vote " not to have any woman's school." The annual 
appropriation at the close of the century had reached 
the sum of $300. The closing years of the eighteenth 



BEDFOKD. 



19 



century mark a very important epoch in the interests 
of education in Bedford. Rev. Samuel Stearns came, 
as tlie fourth minister to the town. He was an emi- 
nent scliolar, young and energetic, and possessed of 
rare qualities for leadership, which he judiciously 
used. For more than thirty years every progressive 
step in education bears the impress of his cultured 
mind and careful hand. The limited advantages for 
education were not urged upon girls, and when one 
of the sex manifested a desire to push beyond the 
fundamental principles she was subject to ridicule. 
The evil, not confined to this town, received early cor- 
rection here. In 1797 Rev. i\Ir. Stearns inaugurated a 
female seminary, which was one of the very early insti- 
tutions of the kind in New England. Young ladies 
from this and neigboring towns were instructed by 
him in tiie higher branches, many of whom were 
fitted for teachers and made most commendable rec- 
ords in the profession. The vote of 1790 "To employ 
only such masters as the law requires," cut off many 
ignorant aspirants for the office, but it did not reach 
the question of methods, and Rev. Mr. Stearns soon 
began to exert an influence in that direction. Rev. 
William F. Stearns, I). I)., of Amherst ('ollcge, records 
the following method for teaching the alphabet in 
the opening years of the present century, as practiced 
upon himself : "The master pointed with his pen-knife 
to the first three letters and said : 'That's A, that's B, 
that's C; now take your seat and I will call you by 
and by, and if you can't tell them I will cut your ears 
right off with this knife.'" This was doubtless an 
extreme case, but the reform movement of the nine- 
teenth century was well advanced before the youth 
were exempt from the caprices of teachers. In 1798 
the town appropriated twenty dollars fur a singing- 
school. 

In 180-t the first system of by-laws for the govern- 
ment of the schools was adopted and put in force. 
Ignorance of teachers was guarded against. The win- 
ter school was regularly opened and closed with 
prayer. The Bible was read in all of the schools as 
often as once a day. The Assembly's Shorter Cate- 
chism was taught weekly, and every member untlcr 
the age of fifteen years was obliged to carefully attend 
to such instruction. It was expected of all male teachers 
" that they frequently and carefully impress u|)on the 
minds of the youth the principles of virtue and piety, 
as connected with their responsibility and usefulness 
in life, and also highly essential to t be supiiort and well- 
being of our free Republican form of government, as 
required by law." For more than thirty years the 
Assembly's Shorter Catechism was one of the required 
text-books. Another text-book was Slorse's Geogra- 
j>hy, the first book on the science published in Amer- 
ica. In the scarcity of text-books the "School 
Fathers" required it to be used by the "first cla.ss" 
as a " reader." In 1806 a school-house was built at 
the centre, in place of the old building that had been 
remodeled for school purposes seventy-three years 



before. The annual appropriation then reached six 
hundred dollars and sixteen weeks of schooling were 
provided ; only two schools were in session at any 
one time, and pupils were not confined to district 
limits. This led at length to a bitter quarrel in the 
East District. The master lost all authority, and the 
committee failed to restore order or peace. The sev- 
eral sections were arrayed violently against one an- 
other. The east quarter boys were on one side called 
by their enemies "Shaberkins and Sharks." The 
boys from the centre and north were united as an op- 
posing force and named, from their locality, " North- 
<iuarter hogs and city pigs.'' No day was without its 
battle. Many parents sided with their children and 
things grew worse and worse, until the town took it in 
hand and voted, .Vpril 5, ISl.'J, " To set off the East part 
of the town as a school district, according to law, and 
that they draw their proportion of the school money 
according to the valuation of estates in that section." 
.V town library, chartered by the General Court, was 
now in a flourishing condition. Each school district 
bad a " prudential con)mittee" to attend to the local 
interests of the school, and the town annually chose a 
committee of inspection whose duty it was to regulate 
the text-books, to provide supplies for poor children and 
adjust all difficulties. An examination of all teach- 
ers was required as to moral and literary qualifica- 
tions. The by-laws were remodeled in 1819, and 
" master's schools" were required to be opened and 
closed with prayer, and the record furlher says, 
" which practice alio is particul.arly recommended to 
the serious consideration of female instructors, who 
will be permitted to use an approved written form of 
prayer." It was found ditticult to enforce rules and 
secure uniformity in text-books until 1827, when an 
agent was appointed to furnish supplies at cost, and 
was paid for his services, by the towns. This custom 
prevailed until 1884, when the State passed the law re- 
quiring towns to furnish all school supplies and made 
the schools literally free. 

The people were now beginning to receive the bene- 
fit of the "Page and Hartwell Fund." A certain 
proportion of the income w.as required to be expended 
for teaching sacred music. A singing-school was 
inaugurated in 1827, and held annual sessions at the 
centre for the benefit of the whole town. In 1829 a 
two-story brick school-house was built at the cost of 
.$2210.43. This furnished ample accommodation for 
the schools and for town business. The annual ses- 
sion of the singing-school for the benefit of the whole 
town was held in the "commodious" building until 
1837, when the income for teaching sacred music be- 
came a denominational benefit. The apparatus of the 
school-room w.as meagre, indeed, until 1841. The open 
fire-place had given way to a close stove which 
necessitated the cutting of cord-wood sticks once 
in two, but this, with the " master's desk " and 
" battered seats " constituted the entire furnishings. 
A primitive volume called " The School-Book " 



20 



BEDFORD. 



was furnished each town by the State in 1806, 
in numbers equal to the districts. This town sold 
the volumes at " vendue." In 1840 the School 
Committee filed the first school report. In 
1841 the sum of one hundred dollars was appropri- 
ated for maps and philosophical apparatus. Efforts 
were made in 1841 and 1850 to establish a High 
School, but without success. The first printed report 
of the School Committee was circulated in 1847, and 
in the following year each district was furnished with 
"Webster's Dictionary." The annual appropriation 
for schools reached $800 in 1847, and $1000 in 185(5. 
This amount had been annually increased by the in- 
come of the " surplus revenue fund." An unsuccess- 
ful eftbrt was made about 1850 to establish a free pub- 
lic library, but an association was formed and a library 
started, by which superior advantages were furnished 
for a small compensation. 

In 1850 the town received an unexpected benefit 
through the will of Zadock Howe, of Billerica, by 
which a seminary was founded and endowed for the 
benefit of this as well as other towns. The public 
gratitude was manifested by spreading a copy of the 
will upon the town records, and individual apprecia- 
tion was manifested by turning to the Howe School 
for higher instruction. 

In 1852 the demand for a high school was gratified, 
and of $885, the school appropriation for that year, 
$285 was apiiortioned for the trial of the experiment. 
It was abandoned after a trial of two years. The 
school-house in each "quarter" of the towu stood as 
"a ragged beggar sunning" after sixty years of hard 
service, and in 1854 new houses were built at the east 
and north, and the west was thoroughly repaired, and 
a new one was soon erected at Ihe south. In 185G the 
brick house at the Centre was torn down and the pres- 
ent building, combining two school-rooms with a 
town hall, was erected at a cost of $8524. Mr. Charles 
Lane, of Boston, presented a valuable clock to the 
town for its use in the new hall. He was the same 
person who fell some years later, at his own threshold 
in Dorchester, by the assassin's bullet. 

The dedication of the new building was an event of 
much importance, as the principal parts in the exer- 
cises were taken by .sons of the town. Mr. Josiah A. 
Stearns gave the dedicatory address and Mr. John F. 
Gleason a poem ; among other speakers was Mr. 
Charles Lane, the donor of the clock. 

The efforts put forth in the erection of the new town 
building had a stimulating effect upon education 
among all classes of society. The youth were inspired 
with commendable ambition in school work and their 
elders sought improvement through the lyceum. The 
town appropriation now readied .tlOOO. This was in- 
creased to about $1200 by the income of the surplus 
revenue, and the State School Fund, which was estab- 
lished in 1834. The town expended the " surplus 
revenue," and increased the annual appropriations to 
$1100 in 1861. The half-day session of Saturday was 



discontinued by the vote of the town in 1863. In 
1872 an attempt was made to concentrate the direct- 
ing power and to employ a superintendent, but this 
unfortunately resulted in an increase of the board of 
committee from three to six members. The results 
were not satisfactory, and a return was made to the 
original number as soon as the State law would ad- 
mit. Women were first elected as School Committee 
in 1872, and have proved wise and efficient workers 
in the department of education. 

At the annual meeting of the town, in 1885, it was 
voted that the schools should be graded, that an 
English high school course of two years should be 
adopted, and that the school year should begin with 
the opening of the fall term. This plan, put in oper- 
ation September, 1885, had a most stimulating effect 
upon the students in the several departments, and led 
the parents to indorse a growing sentiment for con- 
solidation. 

In June, 1886, the first graduates were presented 
with diplomas. The course of .study was altered and 
amended in 1889, so as to include three years of High 
.School study, in which is the Latin language. The 
appropriation gradually increased until it reached 
.f2S00, for ordinary expenses, to which is added the 
town's portion of the income of the " State School 
Fund." An annual appropriation is made for school- 
books and supplies. 

After thirty-three years of service, the combined 
town hall and school building was declared inade- 
quate to the pressing demands of the evening of the 
nineteenth century, and preliminary steps have been 
taken, 1890, towards the erection of a modern struc- 
ture. In the schools of Bedford, thus briefly described, 
have been laid the foundations of some grand literary 
structures. 

As the date is comparatively recent when progress 
has unbolted the doors of colleges to women, the list of 
those who have received a public education is con- 
fined to men. 

In 1876 the Bedford Free Public Library Corporation 
was chartered for the benefit of the inhabitants of the 
town. 

The property of the Bedford Library Association 
was donated and became the nucleus of a valuable 
collection of books and other publications. Every 
resident of the town having reached the age of twelve 
years has the right to draw books from the library 
without payment of fee. Appropriations by the town 
and private contributions have enabled the trustees 
to make frequent additions until in 1890 there are 
nearly 3000 volumes for circulation, besides many 
valuable works tor reference, and a collection of an- 
tiquities, relics and articles of historic interest. The 
town has an annually increasing fund for the erection 
of a library building, much needed at present. 

A local weekly paper, Bedford Bulletin, is published 
in connection with other towns, under the editorial 
care of Abram E. Brown. It is now in its thirty- 



BEDFORD. 



21 



third volume. It has an extensive circulation in 
the town and in various sections ol' the United States 
where natives of Bedford are located. 



CHAPTER VII. 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



Indian Troiibleg — Imtividiiat SeiTice—lCrperienre <if Mary Lane— Maxicull 
Family — French yt'UtntU — fV^wc/i tind In<li<iH W'urs. 

The war cry was not an unfamiliar sound to the 
settlers of this territory. They were accustomed to 
hardiibips, many of them liad done service in the 
early campaigns, and sacrificed blood and treasure 
long before the Revolutionary .struggle bur.st upon 
the Colonies. Of the garrison-houses ordered by the 
" Honorable Council " in liiTS, during the invasion of 
King I'hilip, four were within the present Tiniils of 
Bedford. As the Bedford of to-day represents out- 
lying sections of Billerica and ('oncord, the homes of 
these scattered settlers did not suffer from any gen- 
eral invasion in the Indian Wars. Many of the men 
were away in the service, ami the women were com- 
pelled to do double duty at home. 

It is impossible to make up a complete list of those 
who served in the early campaigns. Job Lane was 
" impressed," but doubtless allowed to return and aid 
in the protection of his own garrison, agreoal)le to 
the order of the "Honorable Council" of ](>75-76. 
Sec. 4. " The said towns have their own men returned 
that are abroad and freed from impressment during 
their present state." Lieutenant .lohn Wilson, who 
had a "corne mill " on Vine Brook, did good service 
"to the Eastward " in Itiy^-OS. Ijieutenant John Lane 
received the following order in .Vugust, U>'M : " These 
are in bis Majesty's name to require you forthwith to 
Impress eight Troopers with arms and ammunition for 
his Majesty's service, four of which are to be daily 
Imployed as a scout about yo' town, especially towards 
the great swamp." 

In l(i03 Lieutenant Lane received similar orders 
from the Lieutenant-* iovernor, and in 1702 he re- 
ceived the following order from Governor Joseph 
Dudley : 

" CAMBHilinE, 5 Nov., 1702. 
" Sill : I (Icairo yvyi with two of your trooiw to ri-pajr to tlie towus of 
Mftrlboro', Lanciiatpr, Groton, Cljelmsford Ollcl T)iinstal»lo, aiul tlioro (to 
livor Boverally tlio lettera given you and oncoui-ago the otViccra in tlieir 
duly, agreeable to the several directions, etc." 

It is evident that the (tovernor of the Colony was 
personally acquainted with Major Lane, he having 
attained that military title at that time, and knew him 
to be a trustworthy man. In the Lane papers tiled in 
this town is the following: 

" A list of the names of the Troopers which served 
under my command to the relief of Dunstable. July 
2 



the fourth, seventeen hundred atid si.x." Six of the 
twenty-nine were from Bedford side of ancient Bil- 
lerica, viz.: Samuel Fitch, Josiah Bacon, Nathaniel 
Page, Nathaniel Bacon, Benj. Bacon, Josiah Fassett. 
In the succeeding August, under the same command, 
Josiah Bacon served as " Trumpetter " and Josiah 
Fassett with Benjamin Bacon were privates. The 
following anecdote was related by Leander Hosmer, a 
descendant of the heroine of the Lane family: 
"Mary, daughter of Colonel .lohn Ijane, was left 
during a season of alarm in the garrison with but one 
soldier on guard. Something behind a stump excited 
the suspicion of Alary, as she looked from a window 
in the roof. The soldier declined to open fire, and 
she took the gun and discharged it and saw a dead 
Indian roll into sight." The Lanes had an inherent 
love for military life. One writes from York, April 
21, 1721: "Lt. John Lane has been so imprudent as 
to suitor his men to kill sundry creatures belonging to 
the people of the County of York.' He afterwards 
made satisfaction for the rash act 

By an act of the Genera! Court, November 17, 1724, 
men were allowed two shillings per day for time in 
service and £100 for each male scalp in addition to 
other premiums established by law. This ofl'er of the 
government was an approved means of defence 
against the Indians, and aroused Captain John Love- 
well, of Dunstable, to raise a company and set out 
into the wilderness. He made three expeilitions, 
during which several Indians were killed and others 
were captured alive. The third and memorable ex- 
pedition of April 15, 172.5, proved the most disas- 
trous to the company, nearly one-third being killed, 
among whom was their leader. In each of the ex- 
peditions Bedford men participated, and Josiah 
Davis was killed, Eleazer Davis wounded, and others 
experienced the most painful hardship. 

From a published sermon of Rev. Thomas Symras, 
preached at Bradford, on the Sabbath following the 
return of the unfortunate company, the following 
account of the suflering of some of the number is 
t.aken : " Eleazer Davis, after being out fourteen days 
came into Berwick. He was wounded in the abdo- 
men and the ball lodged in his body. He also had 
his right hand shot ofl'." A tradition says that, ar- 
riving at a pond with Lieutenant Farwell, Davis 
pulled off one of his moccasins, cut it in strings, 
on which he fastened a hook, caught some fish, fried 
and ate them. They refreshed him, but were inju- 
rious to Farwell, who died soon after. Josiah Davis, 
another of the four, was wounded with a ball which 
lodged in his body. After being out fourteen day.s, 
in hourly expectation of perishing, he arrived at 
Saco emaciated and almost dead from the loss of 
blood. He recovered, but became a cripple." This 
manner of dealing with the Indians must be severely 
([uestioned, and enlisting to pursue the scattered rem- 
nant of homeless natives for such a purpose as ac- 
tuated Lovewell and his followers must be condemned ; 



BEDFORD. 



but the narrative serves to show the hardships to 
which the founders of ihis town were accustomed and 
by which they acquired the habits of self-reliauce so 
evident in their later history. 

The Maxwell family furnished some brave military 
men during the French and Indian Wars, aud also in 
the struggle for freedom from British oppression. 
Hugh Maxwell entered the service as a private, 
served five campaigns and held a commission from 
Governor Pownall as ensign, dated March 31, 1759. 
Thompson, brother to Hugh, was with " Rogers' 
Rangers " at the destruction of St. Francis and all 
through the French and Indian Wars. He entered 
the service at the age of sixteen years. Lemuel 
Shattuck says : "Several of the inhabitants of Bed- 
ford sustained commissions." 

The descendants of Nathaniel Page, who settled 
here in 1687, were commissioned officers for several 
generations : Cornet Nathaniel Page, born in Eng- 
land in l(i79, died in Bedford, 1755; his son, John, 
born in 1704, held commission as cornet from Jona- 
than Belcher, Colonial Governor in 1737. Ensign 
Josiah Fassett was at the relief of Fort Williams in 
May, 1758. Sergeant Page, of Bedford, was with 
Thompson Maxwell in 1758. Maxwell had a hand- 
to-hand conflict with two Itidians, — he shot one and 
brought the other " to a halt." He says in his pub- 
lished journal: "Being exhausted, I reached a stream 
and Page swam across with me on his back with his 
gun and my own. I could not swim. In 1759 our 
suffering from cold and hunger cannot be described ; 
thirty-seven of our number died on the banks of the 
White River in Vermont, where Royalston is now 
built. Sergt. Page was with us and a very stout man. 
He helped me or I doubt how it would have fared 
with me." "Nathaniel Merriam (son of Dea. Na- 
thaniel) died at Lake George in his Majesty's service, 
Sept. 15, 1758, aged 19 years." 

When the " French Neutrals '' were taken from 
their Arcadian homes and portioned out in the Col- 
onies, Bedford had her share to provide for. Joseph 
Fitch and John Moore filed the following bill : "The 
Province of the Mass. Bay Indebted to the Town of 
Bedford — To providing for the French Neutrals or- 
dered to said town the 16 of Feb. A.D., 1760, 'till the 
17ih of June, 1761, £21 7s." Bedford men were at 
Crown Point, Ticonderoga and at the decisive en- 
gagement on the plains of Abraham, and also on the 
northern frontiers, where troops were kept to watch 
the Indians until the treaty of peace was concluded, 
in 1762, by which Canada became a British posses- 
sion. It is gratifying to know that their services 
were appreciated as appears from the following : 

Voted on March 2, 1763, " To abate Josiah Davis, 
his son Paul, lately deceased, and Joseph Wilson, their 
town and Highway Rate and all other soldiers their 
Highway Rate." Thirteen received abatements. In 
1763 the people of this town entered into the 
" Thanksgiving " ordered by the King for the restora- 



tion of peace, with the same will that they had mani- 
fested during the protracted war. They labored 
under the disadvantage of having no minister to in- 
spire or guide them from 1766 to 1771. The minister 
was the vanguard in many towns. Concord had her 
Emerson, and Lexington her Clark, but in the ab- 
sence of such a leader in Bedford, there was no falter- 
ing on the jiart of the people. Hugh Maxwell, the 
" Christian Patriot," came to the front with some- 
what of the heroism and organizing power which 
inspired his father to lead his entire family across the 
ocean to escape oppression. There were other brave 
men whose names appear in the subsequent years of 
trial. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Colotiuil Trnubles — Bi^aton Tea Partif — MinuU-Meu—Concord Fight— 
Women's Part— Batik of Bunker Hilt. 



March, 1768, the town voted "To concur with 
the vote of the town of Boston in October last, to en- 
courage the produce and maniifaclure of the Prov- 
ince." The women were not behind in expressions of 
loyalty. They carried on spinning and weaving at 
an increased rate. A bride from one of the first 
families of the town is known to have been led to 
the marriage altar dressed in a "gown" of her own 
manufacture, the fruit of her own loom. The town 
sent no representative to the General Court until the 
Revolutionary struggle was well under way. The 
"letter of Correspondence " sent out from a Boston 
town-meeting asking for " a free communication of 
sentiments," was received and acted upon with a 
spirit of determination on March 1, 1773. In the 
following March the town voted " not to use any 
tea till the duty is taken ofl"." In the " Tea Party," 
December 16, 1773, Bedford was represented by 
Thompson Maxwell, although not at that time a resi- 
dent of the town. His journal reads thus : " In 1773, 
I went with my te:im to Boston, which was shut up 
(blockaded), with a load of provisions for '.he poor of 
the town. I had loaded at John Hancock's ware- 
house and was about to leave town, when Mr. Han- 
cock requested me to drive my team up into his yard, 
and ordered his servants to take care of it, and re- 
quested me to be at Long Wharf at two o'clock p.m., 
and informed me what was to be done. I went ac- 
cordingly, joined the band under Captain Hewes. 
We mounted the ships and made tea in a trice. This 
done I took my team and went home as an honest 
man should." ' 



1 Feuring that this narrative and othera that will follow, might be re- 
garded as too good to be credited, we have carefully studied the facts and 
have no doubt of the validity of the journal. John Hancock, the 
famous patriot and merchant of Boston, inherited the estate of his 



BEDFORD. 



23 



When "Boston Port Bill" went into operation, 
June 1, 1774, the old bell pealed forth the sound of 
alarm over the hills of this town, ami the already 
crumbling "Bell-liouse" lost its equilibrium, but 
not so the people. They met on the last day of June, 
"To know and determine what measures ace Proper 
to be taken at this present time of Trouble and Dis- 
tress," etc. They unanimously voted to adopt the 
covenant of non-intercourse. They chose the Com- 
mittee of Correspondence, which consisted of Deac on 
Stephen Davis , John Reed, Joseph llartwell, John 
Webber and John Moore. 

The town was represented by four delegates at the 
county convention held at Concord on August 30th and 
31st. On October 1 llh the town was represented by 
Joseph liaHard and John Reed in the first Provincial 
Congress, which had met by adjournment from Salem 
on the 6th. John Hancock was chairman and Ben- 
jamin Lincoln clerk. After a session of three days 
the Congress adjourned to meet at Cambridge, and 
then continued from October 17th to December 10th. 

Devotion to a noble cause prompted the Represen- 
tatives from this town, as there was no ofi'er of com- 
pensation from a depleted treasury, but in JIarch, 
1775, the town voted " To allow Doct. Joseph Bal- 
lard four shillings per day, for twelve days at Cam- 
bridge, and four shillings for expenses at Concord." 

.January 18, 1775. They at first voted not to send 
a delegate to the Provincial Congress of February, 
but on the 27th, in a second meeting, chose John 
Reed, and, agreeable to a recommendation of the 
Continental Congress, chose a " Committee of Inspec- 
tion " consisting of Moses Abbott, Thomas Page, 
Ebenezer Page, John Reed and Edward Stearns. At 
the Provincial Congress held at Concord and Cam- 
bridge, the plan was adopted for enrolling all the 
able-bodied men, and the order passed " that these 
companies should immediately assemble and elect 
their proppcr officers ; that these officers, when 
elected, should .assemble and elect field officers, 
and they enlist at least one-ipiarter of the men 
enrolled." These were the "minute-men." The 
people of Bedford gave hearty assent to the appoint- 
ment of Henry Gardner, of Stow, as treasurer of the 
Province, and made payment to him rather than to 
the royal treasurer. 

In March, 1775, the town voted " to pay twenty- 
five ' minnte-raen' one shilling per week until the 
first of May nest, — they to exercise four hours in a 
week, and two shillings to be allowed two officers, 
they to equip themselves according to the advice of 



ilnclp, Tliomoa Hancock. The warohouso alhuleil to, was a portion, 
and hntl l>cen in tlie raiuily for many yeara ; lierti Itie country furtncrs 
liatl ©xchnngoil llieir prvtiliico for other wariw, tlio Slaxwella among 
tlicni, very naturally, aa tlicy must have licconio interested in the 
fantily tlmiugh Ebenezer Hancock, brother of Thonms, who bad taught 
the Ile<irortl school and boanied with the family of Uev. Mr, Howes, 
whose wife was his sister. Tlie mutual acquaintance bad led John 
Hancock to couHde the secret of destroying the tea to a worthy friend 
wboM warlike spirit was gratified in this daring act. 



the Congress." While John Reed was laboring in 
the interests of the town in the Second Congress, the 
minute-men were being faithfully drilled and the 
comjiany of militia as well. The minule-men of Bed- 
ford were a lair specimen of those forces, so hastily 
prepared for war, of whom Lord Percy said : " We 
never saw anything equal to the intrepidity of the 
New England minute-men." The officers of the min- 
ute-men had no commissions, as did those of the 
militia already in .service; hence their authority came 
through the suH'rage of their associates. The Bedford 
minute-men organized by choosing Jonathan Wilson 
as captain and Moses Abbott as lieutenant; Cornet 
Nathaniel Page was standard-bearer. 




The banner illustrated on this page was carried by 
Cornet Nathaniel Page in the company of minute- 
men from Bedford to Concord, April 19, 1775. It had, 
doubtless, been in the Page family in this town for 
nearly a century before the Revolution. It was re- 
turned to the Page mansion after the opening scenes 
of the war, and there kept until the centennial cele- 
bration at Concord, April 19, 1875, when it was car- 
ried with the Bedford delegation in the procession ot 
that dky. Ten years later, October 19, 1885 (the 
one hundred and fourth anniversary of the surrender 
by Coruwallis to Washington), it was presented by 
Captain Cyrus Page to the town of Bedford. 

It was thus brought to the attention of the Massa- 
chusetts Historical Society at their meeting in the 
following Janu.ary, when Mr. Appleton reported upon 
it as follows : 

" It was originally designed in England, in l(i60-70, 
for the three-county troops of Massachusetts, and be- 
came one of the accepted standards of the organized 
militia of this State, and as such it was used by the 
Bedford company." Mr. Appleton said that in his 
opinion " This fl.ig far exceeded in historic value the 
famed flag of f^utaw and Pulaski's banner, and, in fact, 



24 



BEDFORD. 



is the most precious memorial of its kind we have any 
knowledge of." The three-county troops, referred to 
above, originated thus : In May, 1643, the whole 
Colony of Massachusetts Bay was divided into four 
shires — Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, named 
from the English counties. In the same year, 1643, 
a new organization of the militia was determined 
upon, and the Colony forces were divided into three 
regiments. Middlesex had one, Suffolk one and Es- 
sex was joined with Noffolk in one. The valuable 
relic now owned by the town of Bedford is, without 
doubt, the banner carried by the Middlesex Regi- 
ment. 

" By tbe rude briJge that arched the flood. 

Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, 
Here once the embattled farmers stood, 
Aud fired the shot beard round the world." 

— Emerson. 

The " Lexington Alarm List," in the archives of 
the State, gives Bedford credit for twenty -six minute- 
meu, but has no record of the captain, Jonathan Wil- 
son, who was killed on April 19, 1775. This unfortu- 
nate omission is, doubtless, to be accounted for by his 
brief service (the sacrifice of life being made about 
mid-day) and the few miles of travel, making the de- 
mand against the Province too small to receive the 
attention of the bereaved family. 

The same list is authority in regard to the number 
of men belonging to the Bedford company of militia 
of the Seventh Regiment, together with their time of 
service. 

According to the sworn statements of the com- 
manding officers of the Bedford companies, there 
were, from this town, engaged in that part of the 
opening scene of the Revolution that took place at 
Concord, seventy-seven men in organized command, 
besides undrilled citizens who joined the ranks on 
that morning. If, as a recent writer of Concord 
fight has recorded, the Provincial forces " numbered 
possibly three hundred and fifty men " at half-past 
nine o'clock, more than one-fifth of them were from 
Bedford. Thompson Maxwell (before mentioned) 
was with the minute-men of Bedford on April 19th. 
His journal of that date is as follows : "I again hap- 
pened in Bedford with my team. I left Boston the 
18th, and got to my native town that night, and put 
U]) with my brother, Wilson (who married my sister), 
and was Captain of the minute-men. Next morning 
early he had orders to march with his company to 
Concord. He requested me to go with him. I went, 
well armed, and joined in the fight. My brother, 
Wilson, was killed. Next day I hired a man to 
drive my team home." His home was at Milford 
(then Amherst), N. H. He later adds in his journal, 
"I never went home until after the Battle of Bunker 
Hill." It is not certain how early the news of the 
movement of the Regulars first reached Bedford on 
the night of April IS, 1775, but it is very probable 
that the town was warned among the first. Nathan 
Munroe and Benjamin Tidd, at Captain Parker's re- 



quest, went up to Bedford from Lexington, some 
time in the evening, and, according to the sworn 
statement of one of them, "notified the inhabitants." 
The people had but little sleep that night, aud were 
astir long before the break of day. 

There is a tradition that Maxwell's familiarity with 
war led him to be suspicious of certain movements 
that he saw in Boston, and that he and Wilson were 
sitting, late at night, discussing the condition of afiairs, 
when tbe messenger reached the house. The min- 
ute-men rallied at the tavern in the village, kept by 
Jeremiah Fitch, Jr., and there had some hastily-pre- 
pared refreshments. The Captain gave the following 
encouraging command as the company left for Con- 
cord : " It is a cold breakfast, boys, but we'll give the 
British a hot dinner; we'll have every dog of them 
before night." 

It is probable that the militia rallied at the home 
of their captain, on the Concord road, and were at the 
scene of action before Captain Wilson's company 
reached there. On the arrival of the two companies 
at Concord they assisted in removing stores to places 
of greater safety. It is said that Cornet Page laid 
down his flag and went to work, and when returning 
to look for it "found the boys had got it and were 
playing soldiers with it." 

The Bedford men were on the ridge when they first 
saw the liritish, but, with all the Americans, soon 
turned and made haste to get to the other side of the 
bridge. 

The Bedford companies met with no loss at the 
bridge, and were all in the pursuit of the retreating 
enemy. They left the " Great Fields "at Merriam's 
Corner, and engaged in the attack, then hastened in 
the pursuit, and were in the thickest of the fight near 
the " Brooks' Tavern," where Captain Wilson was 
killed and Job I.>ane wounded. It is not probable 
that they continued in pursuit of the retreating en- 
emy, but, with saddened hearts, returned to their 
homes, bearing their dead and wounded. A British 
soldier said of them and others: "They fought like 
bears, and I would as soon storm hell as fight them 
again." Bedford homes were full of anxiety that 
da}'. The women were engaged in preparing food 
and sending it on to Concord. One good lady said, 
"All day long the bell was ringing and guns were 
firing ; people were dashing back and forth on horse- 
back, and saying there had been an awful fight." 
She had doubtless seen the Reading and Wilmington 
companies and others as they passed through the 
town or halted to rest at Fitch's tavern. 

Admitting the militia roll, taken twenty-six days 
after the opening scene of the war, to have been sub- 
stantially that of a month earlier, it appears that all of 
the able bodied men of this town, between sixteen and 
sixty years of age, with the exception of eleven, were 
on duty in the organized companies at Concord, on 
April 19, 1775. Had this spontaneous uprising of 
the people been a mad craze for war they would have 



BEDFORD. 



25 



rushed to Lexington ; but it was rather the natural 
act of children hastening to the relief of a mother 
threatened by a common enemy. 

They received no cheer from their minister. When 
the people wereh.astening to the sc(me of conflict, the 
pastor was comfortably ensconced by liis fire-side, 
where lie was found by a neighboringclergyman, who 
halted while on his way to Concord. 

Both companies reported at Cambridge on the fol- 
lowing day, and teams were soon on the road with 
supplies for the army. No Bedford men were at 
Lexington on the 19th. It fosters a sort of patriotic 
pride, that one of the daughters, Lucy Bowes, the wife 
of Rev. Jonas Clark, was the entertainer of Hancock 
and Adams. In 1776 the entire population of the 
town, including negroes and mulattoes, was 482. As- 
suming that to have been the number one year earlier, 
it appears that one-seventh of the entire population 
participated in the opening scene of the Revolution. 
Bedford had credit for seventy-three men, on May 1, 
1775, in the regiment under command of Colonel 
Samuel Gerish. 

The following is a letter from one of the selectmen : 

'•OOLL CJrEF.N. 

" Sir, — I liave Receivftl a few liiiPB fioni you, wlierein you requested 
me to tjkko a list of nil that are liable to Bare arms, and iu compliance to 
your request I have taken a list of all that are betwixt sLxteen and sixty, 
that are liable to do duty. There is eighty-ei^lit iu the list, including 
officers. 

" Bedford, May the 15", 1775." 

.laniiary 1, 1777, the number of able-bodied men in 
town, from sixteen years upwards, was 181, including 
five negroes. In addition to the other burdens, this 
town had twenty-nine of the poor of Boston to sup- 
port, during the siege of that city. \ Board of Over- 
seers of the Poor, separate from the selectmen, was 
first chosen at that time. 

The Maxwell brothers were both in camp at Cam- 
bridge. Thompson went with the Bedford men to 
camp on the day following his experience at Concord, 
and there joined his company under Captain Crosby, 
from Milford, New Hampshire, in Colonel Reed's regi- 
ment. Hugh was senior captain in Colonel Prescott's 
regiment. Their experience in the Battle of Bunker 
Hill is told in Thompson's journal, and is to the 
honor of their native town : 

" Od the IGtb of June Col. Reed was ordered to Charleslown neck. 
About twelve o'cli»ok the same day a number of our offlcet^ passed us 
and went on to Bunker Hill. General Ward, with the rest, returned 
and went to Cambridge. In the evening Colonel Piescott passed with 
his regiment. >Iy brother Hugh stepped out and asked Colonel Heed 
and myself if we would come on to the hill that night. Wo did so ; wo 
went to Breed's llill. We found Colonel Putnam there, with Oolonel 
Prescott's command. 

'* Colonel Preacott requested my brother Hugh to lay out the 
ground for the intrenohmeut. He did so. I set up the stakes after 
them. Colonel Prescott seemed to havo the sole command. Col- 
onel Beed and I returned to our command on the neck about eleven 
o'clock I'.u. At day. In the morning, we again went to the hill, round 
Putnam and Prescott there. Prescott still appeared to bare command : 
no other regiment was there but Prescott's through the night. Captain 
Maxwell, after day, suggested, in my bearing, to Colonel Prescott the 
propriety of ruDuiug an intrenchment from the northeast angle of the 



night's work to a rail-fence leading to Mystic River. Colonel Prescott 
approved and it was done. I set up the stakes after my brother. About 
seven o'clock I saw Colonels Prescott and Putnam in conversation ; im- 
me{iiately after, Putnam mounted his horse and went full speed towards 
Cambridge. Colonel Reed ordered bis men to their commands ; we re- 
turned and prepared for action. .\t eleven o'clock we received orders 
fiom Colonel Prescott to move on. We did so. 

" We funned by order of Prescott down to the rail-fence and part on 
the intrenchment. We got hay and wadded between the rails, after 
doubling the fence by post ami rails from another place. We remained 
there during the battle." 

Maxwell also gives a detailed account of the battle, 
which is substantitvlly the same as given in general 
history, and we omit it here. 

In 177G the town took action on the question of the 
Colonies declaring their independence, and ■\'oted 
thus: " That we, the said inhabitants, will solemnly 
engage, with our lives and fortunes, to support them 
in the measure." 

The town hesitated on the adoption of a Constitu- 
tion and form'of government, but in August, 1779, 
chose John Reed, Esq., as their representative, "for 
the sole purpose of forming a new constitution.'' He 
served in this convention, which was held in the 
meeting-house at Cambridge, twenty-one days. In 
the following May the form of government was sub- 
mitted to the people and received their approval in a 
meeting, three times adjourned, by a vote of twenty- 
five to one. 

The Declaration of Independence was first read to 
the people by the minister from the pulpit of the old 
meeting-house, and is spread, in bold hand-writing, 
on the records of the town, " There to remain as a per- 
petual memorial," signed James Webber, town clerk. 



CHAPTER IX. 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



^itppIUs for the Army — FimiitcUil Troubles — ]^ote for tr'ort-njor tmder the 
ConttiCitlion in 1780. 

In January, 1776, the town furnished six cords of 
wood and two tons of English hay daily for the army 
at Cambridge. With each load of hay or wood went 
packages from the loyal homes to the absent members 
in camp and the suflerers in the hospitals. Two ot 
the strong young men of the town, who fought at 
Concord, fell early victims of camp-fever at Cam- 
bridge (Reuben Bacon and Solomon Stearns). The 
town otfered a liberal bounty for volunteers in 1776, 
and at the close of the year voted "that those who 
had personally done a turn in any of the Campaigns 
without any hire be paid the amount of an average of 
those hired." The committee entrusted with the 
duty of equalizing bounty reported in November, 
1777, a bill of £1746 16s. Families of the town 
cherish with j>ride the tradition that their grandsires 
were led by General Washington to Boston, after the 



26 



BEDFORD. 



evacuation by General Howe, and aiiled in the shout 
of joy when the British flag gave way to the thirteen 
gorgeous stripes of red and white. 

It is impossible to make up a complete register or 
state the exact number of men furnished by this town 
during the Revolution, and equally difficult to cast up 
her entire jiublic expenditures. Bedford's Province 
tax from 1774 to 1776 increased more than five fold. 

The opening of the war made a demand for money, 
and in May, 1775, the Provincial Congress empowered 
the treasurer to borrow and gives notes of the Province 
as security. Soon Continental bills were issued by 
the General Government. These bills were readily 
exchanged for cash for a while, but the repeated is- 
sues of such bills by both State and nation, and no 
specie to redeem them, together with the darkening 
days of the war, caused a depreciation in their value. 
The British officers and those who favored the royal 
cause lost no opportunity to weaken the confidence 
of the people in the bills of credit, until it required 
about seventy-five pounds in paper to procure one in 
specie. £1 or 20s. was worth in January, 1781, only 
&d. Igr. The purchasing v.alue of any sum during 
the war after January, 1777, can only be determined 
by referring to a table of depreciation reported once 
a month, agreeable to a law of the State for the set- 
tling of contracts: 

January 1, 1777, $1 in silver was rated as $1.05 in 
currency; January 1, 1778, $1 in silver was rated as 
$3.28 in currency; .January 1, 1779, $1 in silver was 
rated as $7.42 in currency; January 1, 1780, .|1 in 
silver was rated as $29.34 in currency ; January 1 , 
1781, $1 in silver was rated as $75.00 in currency. 

In 1777 the town chose a committee at the March 
meeting to hire the soldiers that might be called for 
that year and empowered them to borrow money. The 
amount borrowed with interest was £377 Ss. 3c/., paid 

as follows : 

.c .. d. 

For Uie Continental soUliors' liiie 2;iG 111 

For the bounty to the Rhode Island men 22 10 

For the bounty to tbo men to Bennington 48 

For one man to guard the ContinenUiI stores .... 6 00 

For the thirty day men to join the Continental Army 24 o 

For allowance fur hiring the men 4 11 

For fire-arms, lead and flints for town stock .... 35 123 

.t377 3 3 

The above amount was assessed and paid that year. 
An item appears in the records Jlay 8, 1777, which 
serves to show the cost of powder: "Then renewed 
the Town stock of powder from Andover 72 weight 
at six chellings per pound £21 12s." 

The town allowed for bounties, £293. It was di- 
vided as follows : 

£ 
Ist Tour. 3 men, 2 raontha, to Rhode Island, ftlay 1, 1T77, no boun- 
ty voted. 
2d Tour. 8 men, 3 months, to Bennington, Aug. 21, 1777, each X15 . 120 
3d Tour. 8 men, 30 days, " to take and guard the troops," Sept., 1777 

(meaning Burguyne's surrendered army), each £2 lU 

4th Tour. 5 men, 3 months, to Boston with Oapt. Farmer, each £12 60 
5th Tour. 8 men, 3 months, to Cambridge with Capt. Moore, April 

1, 1778, £11 each 88 



.John Reed to Rhode Island, the same rate as thoso with Capt, 

Farmer 9 

£293 

March 23, 1778, the town reimbursed Moses Abbot 
for money paid for guns, £18 Is. 3rf. ; also Joseph 
Con vers for the same, £18 Is. 3d. 

July 29, 1778, William Page is charged with the 
overplus of money in collecting clothing by subscrip- 
tion for the Continental soldiers, £9 15s. 

Careful research proves that there was scarcely a 
campaign during the war in which Bedford was not 
represented by her own citizens, and supplies of boots, 
shoes, blankets and clothing were continually fur- 
nished by the people, who bravely endured hardships 
in their homes. The soldiers, who had enlisted for 
three years, were paid in the depreciated currency, of 
which it was said, " a hat-full of the stuft" would not buy 
our families a bushel of salt," and many saw but little 
inducement to re-enlist ; and in 1779 the duty of fill- 
ing the town's quota became a serious matter. The 
town added to the commis.sioned officers three citizens 
to aid them in procuring men. They were Moses 
Abbott, Timothy Jones and Jonas Gleason. The 
commissioned officers were Captain John Moore, 
Lieutenant Eleazer Davis and Lieutenant Christo- 
pher Page. 

November, 1779, the following bounties were al- 
lowed : 

£ 

1st Tour. 2 men to Rhode Island, £39 each 78 

2d Tour. 2 men to Rhode Island, 48 bushels of Indian corn, each 

@ £9 per bushel 861 

3d Tonr. 3 men to North River, two of whom have £300 each . . 600 

The other to have £138 cash and SI busheli' of corn at £9 per bush. 687 

4th Tonr. 2 men to Boston, to have £22 lOjt. each 45 

5th Tour. 6 men to Claveiick 13^ months, Co' £80 per month . . 040 

£2814 
There was added for interest 200 

Total for year £3014 

June, 1780, the town voted to hire the men called 
for to fill up the Conlinental Army, and that the 
treasurer borrow money, if needed. In September 
the committee reported and it was voted to raise and 
assess £5500 immediately to pay the debt incurred. 

BiishelB. 

1st Tour. 7 men to North River, 6 months, to have each 120 bush- 
els of corn 840 

2d Tour. 8 n)en to Rhode Island, 3 months, to have each 90 bushels 

of corn 720 

1560 
Oct. 2, 1780, " voted that ye sum of £8175 be immediately assessed 
and collected to enable the committee to procure the Beef re- 
ciuired from this town for the army " £8175 

By the resolve of December 2, 1780, Bedford was 
called upon to furnish eight men for three years or the 
war. The c.ise now became doubly serious. The records 
show that previous calls for men had been met by 
citizens of the town, very generally ; but the sight of 
their illy-paid neighbors returning from three years 
of service, and the knowledge that hostile fleets were 
in our ports, and hostile armies were upon our soil, 



BEDFORD. 



27 



tended to dampen the most ardent patriotism. One 
man, Joseph Davidson, was hired by the town for 
$200 in hard money. Then the town w;i.s divided 
into seven cla-sses to secure tlie full quota. 

The report of the chairman of each class, as filed 
in the State archives, is as follows : 

" Cloaa T. Oapt. .Tohn Moore, chairman ; provided a nogro called Cam- 
bridge Moore (servant of tiie above], and agreed to give him, aa a boun- 
ty, Twenty head of cattle, three years old, in case be continued in the 
service tlirse years. 

"t'lass II. Lieut. Moses Abbott, chairinan ■, hired a negro called 
Cwsar Prescott for the same number of cattle as the first clas.s paid. 

"Class III. Tliaddeus Dean, ch.airmaii ; hired one Ileury KneeloD, at 
the same rate. 

*' t'lass IV, Capt. Christopher Page, chairman ; * this class, by reason 
of disappointment, have nut provided a man, hut are still in pursuit to 
provide one.* 

*' Chws V. John Reed, Esq., chairman ; hired one James Ingles and 
gave him as a bounty tifteen head of cuttle, three years old, and nine 
hundred and ninety poun<l in paper money. 

"Cliiss VI. Mr. William Page, chairman ; hired one John Williams, 
and gave him, us u bounty, the exchange for two hundred and fifty hard 
dollars in cash. 

" Class VII. Dea. Stephen Davis, chairman ; hired one Joseph Ross, 
and gave him, as u bounty, the exchange for two hundred and twenty 
hard dollars. 

*' William Merui-\m. Christopher Paoe, 
"William P.kqr, Samuel Lane, Jr., 

" Selectmen of Bedford." 

While tlie several committees were at work i>rocur- 
ing men, the town voted in January, 1781, 

"To choose a committee to procure the portion of beef for the army, 
and directed the assessors to assess such sums as were necessary to answer 
the demands of the General Court or their committee then, or in the 
future. 

"Agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court t>f ye 16 of June, 1781, 
hired one man to go to Rhode Island, he was a citizen of the town, 
Sanuiel Hartwell Blood, gave him a bounty of £19 lus. 

"June 30, 1781. The town sent seven men to join General 
Washington's army at West Point. They received Jtl9 16«. 
each us a bounty 138 12 



£158 'it. 
"July 2, 1781. Town voted to raise £UH) hard money, to buy beef, and 
on the 16th of Iho same mouth voted to raise £45 hard money, to pay 
the above-named soldiers what they shall need before marching, and di- 
rected the assessors to make an tLs.se3sments for the balance." 

It is plainly seen that town-meetings and assess- 
ments occupied the time and minds of the people. In 
addition to the demands for the war there were the 
ordinary expenses. It required £3000 of the depleted 
currency to meet the ordinary charges in the year 
1780. 

The financial condition of the town became alarm- 
ing, when in Sept., 1781, " Voted, to Itorrow £40 to 
pay interest on town notes.'' Tlie town also held notes 
against individuals, received by constables in dis- 
charge of the oft-repeated rates. 

Jan. 22, 1782, "Voted, that yc treasurer receive 
money of ye delinquent constables agreeable to the 
depreciation scale, only excepting such sums of money 
as they may have collected before this time and it re- 
maining on hand." The same course was pursued in 
discharging the town's debts. The selectmen were 
directed to assist the treasurer in casting the notes 
and the interest. At the same time " Voted, to raise 
£225 for paying notes." Constables were authorized 



to discount the rates of individuals from notes held 
against the town, when they could no longer respond 
to the calls with cash. While in the midst of the fi- 
nancial difiiculty the people manifested their integ- 
rity in dealing justly with individuals who had entered 
the service in the early years of the war without re- 
gard for remuneration : " Voted, John Lane, Jr., 
fourteen pounds in specie, for his services in the army 
in 1770, and Oliver Reed and Elijah Bacon the same 
sums for hiring men in 1777, as those had who did 
personal service in that campaign, $25 each." In 
January, 1779, the town voted " to abate half of Job 
Lane's war rates in consideration of his wounds re- 
ceived at Concord fight." In the following year 
voted " to abate his poll rates for every year since the 
war began." In 1783 voted " to abate Ebeuezer 
Fitch's rates for being in the service in 1775." He 
was a "minute-man" at Concord, April 19, 1775, and 
at Cambridge ten days. March, 1782, the town was 
divided into three classes to hire three men to serve 
for three years or during the war. 

That this obligation was readily discharged appears 
from the following : Springfield, July 3, 1782. " Reed, 
of Mr. Moses Abbott forty-five pound as a bounty to 
serve three years in the Continental Army for the 
town of Bedford. William Grant." 

Boston, May 11, 1782. Receipt from Ciesar Jones 
for bounty of sixty pounds for similar service. 

Boston, May 13, 1782. Receipt from Zephaniah 
Williams for same amount as paid to Jones. 

It is noticeable that three negroes, relics of the days 
of slavery in this town, not registered as liable to do 
military duty, were in the army during the greater 
part of the war — Cambridge Moore, Ctesar Prescott 
and Ciesar Jones. 

Oct. 26, 1782. Town authorized their treasurer to 
take up a number of grain notes and substitute notes 
for hard money, allowing six shillings for each 
bushel specified and interest for said amount from 
the time the grain became due. 

In justice to the Revolutionary fathers of this town 
it is recorded tliat not the .slightest evidence can be 
found of inclination to repudiate the least obligation, 
either legal or moral. 

From the evidence at hand it appears that the men 
of this town suffered the greatest hardship at the bat- 
tle of White Plains, New York. Moses Fitch was 
wounded in the shoulder, and was being aided off the 
field when his comrade, Sergeant Timothy Page, was 
killed. 

Thomas Cleverly, another Bedford man, escaped, 
but lost everything excepting what clothing he had 
on. 

In December following this battle, Congress vested 
Wa.shington with full power to raise an army and 
gather provisions and to take whatever he might want 
for the use of the army, if the owners refused to sell. 
He also had power to arrest and confine persons who 
refused to take the Continental currency. This was 



28 



BEDFORD. 



the condition of affairs when I\Ioses Fitch was able to 
leave the hospital ; he returned to his home disabled 
for life, having received for his services a portion of 
the currency that had but little purchasing value. He 
was pensioned for life. 

With a population ranging from 470 to 482 engaged 
in agricultural )nirsuits, it is wonderful that the town 
could meet the frequent demands for men and money. 
Besides the regular calls there were continual de- 
mands for delicacies for the sufferers in the hospitals 
and comforts that could not be furnished by the reg- 
ular channels of supply. To these the straitened 
inhabitants were continually responding. The women 
were busy spinning and weaving. In 1770 the town 
furnished twelve blankets for the army by order of 
the General Court of January 4, 1776. Shirts, stock- 
ings, shoes and other articles of dress for the soldiers, 
in addition to the quantities of beef, were supplied by 
the people of Bedford. The treasurer's accounts show 
the cost of a blanket to have been £90, but according 
to the scale of depreciation, $2\ in silver would have 
satisfied the busy housewife. In 1780 " Esq. .Tolin 
Keed " was allowed 125 per day for services and ex- 
penses, twenty-one days, in forming the Constitution, 
but he actually realized less than one dollar per day, 
as one Spanish milled dollar was equal to forty-two of 
the old emission on April 1st, and before the close of 
that year was equal to seventy-four. 

The $1.00 bill, about two inches square, had on its 
face the Latin words " Depressa resurgit," which is, 
in our tongue, " The down-trodden rises." 

Under the new Constitution of 1780 the vote in 
this town for Governor, taken on September 4th, gave 
the successful candidate, John Hancock, twenty-five 
ballots against two for James Bowdoin. " Esq. John 
Reed" was sent to the General Court in 1783 and 
granted five .shillings per d.ay for his services while he 
attended the court. The town chose a committee to 
give him instructions in relation to the return of ab- 
sentees and conspirators. 

To be eligible to the oflice of representative at this 
time, one must be an inhabitant of the town and be 
seized of a freehold of the value of £100 in the town 
or any estate to the value of £200. The representa- 
tive was chosen in the month of May, ten days at 
least before the last Wednesday. The members of 
the Executive Department were chosen on the first 
Monday of April, and inducted into office on the last 
Wednesday of May following. 



CHAPTER X. 

MILIT.\RY HISTORY.' 

Shaij^^ liehetlimi autl Sithsaitunt TrouhUs — Clril War — B^il/ord'a Honored 
Demi. 

Bedford was reluctant in voting to adojit the Con- 
stitution, but having done it, she was true to its 



provisions. In the County Convention at Concord, 
August 23, 1786, "to consult on matters of public 
grievance, under which the people labor," John 
Merriam and Timothy Jones represented the town. 
They were active in all measures adopted to quiet 
the minds of the people who attempted to oppose the 
government. Captain Christopher Page headed a 
large company of militia in Shays' Rebellion, and in 
the following year the town voted " to pay each man 
who went to Concord and Stow to join General Lin- 
coln six shillings per day." 

Foreign troubles and the war with the Western In- 
dians were occasions for calls for soldiers by the Gen- 
eral (iovernment, and the town voted on August 28, 
1794, " to give each soldier that shall voluntarily en- 
list the sum of eighteen shillings as a bounty, and to 
make them up $8.00 per month, including the state 
pay, in case they are called upon to march, and for 
the time they are in actual service." The soldiers 
that enlisted were Moses Abbott, Jr., John Reed, Jr., 
Eleazer Davis, Jr., John Merriam, Jr., Job Webber, 
Asa Webber, William J. Lawrence and William 
Kemp. 

In 1798 troubles with the French aroused the peo- 
ple in this town as elsewhere. Many leading citizens 
adopted and wore the constitutional badge of attach- 
ment to the Government. The town voted on No- 
vember 5th " that the Selectman be directed to show 
out to the officers from the town stock as much pow- 
der and ball and as many flints as the law requires 
for each soldier of said company on their inspection 
days, and also that the selectmen be directed to fur- 
nish each soldier on muster days with sixteen car- 
tridges out of said town stock." The alarm of war 
with Great Britain in 1807 was an occasion for action, 
and the town voted " to make up to the soldiers that 
may voluntarily turn out in defence of our country, 
$14.00 per month as wages, if called into active ser- 
vice, and to give the men, ordered to be discharged 
from ('aptain Lane's Company, if they should volun- 
tarily turn out, $3.00 per mail, as an encouragement 
to the same, whether they march or not." 

December 27th the town " granted to Captain Lane's 
soldiers who should enlist in the defence of our coun- 
try for the term of six months $13 per month as 
wages during the time they .ire in actual service." 

The 1812 or Madison's war, was a time of anxiety 
and increased military duty. The order came for the 
Bedford company to march at once for the defence ot 
Boston; anight w.as passed in the preparation, women 
cooked, while men and boya made cartridges. It was 
on a beautiful S-abbath morning of September that 
the fife and drum summoned the militia together 
at the old meeting-house. Captain David Reed in 
command. With saddened hearts the entire people 
assembled for a brief religious service. After words 
of exhortation and earnest prayer from the patriotic 
pastor, came the partings and the march. 

The last person who lingered outside the meeting- 



BEDFORD. 



29 



house, and watched with tearful eyes the departing 
troops, was the venerable deacon, who, still suffering 
from the wounds received in the Kevolution, felt 
most keenly the parting from his son. It required 
but a few days to prove that the call had been a 
nnslakea one, and the company were gladly received 
to their homes. 

In 1815 the Commonwealth reimbursed the town 
"for rations furnished the militia when called to Bos- 
ton." 

Bedford saw but little of military life for nearly a 
half-century after GeneralJackson's victory at New 
Orleans. 

The militia observed the spring " training,'' when 
officers were elected and the fall preparations for 
muster. 

The full company of the town was in attendance at 
the reception tendered Marquis de Lafiiyette, in 1825, 
when the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument was 
laid. For some years the military duties were but 
little more than a dull routine, unless enlivened by a 
sham fight, ending in a representation of the sur- 
render by Lord Cornwallis to Washington. The 
town had no organized company after 1833. The 
sentiment of the town was with the Government in 
regard to the Mexican trouble. In March, 1847, res- 
olutions were adopted and placed upon the records 
of the town. They begin as follows: 

" Resolved, — That wt) approve of tlie cour*j our government biw 
pui'diied in pro8e*:uting the war with Mexico for the attainment of ne- 
gotiations for an tionurable peace." 

The years that followed the Mexican trouble fur 
nished important subjects lor debate, and the citizens 
of this town organized a lyceum, where perfect free- 
dom of speech was enjoyed. The Fugitive Slave 
Law, the Kansas and Nebraska Bill and many kin- 
dred themes were earnestly discussed. The people 
heartily indorsed the acts of Charles Sumner, Htnry 
Wilson and other unflinching defenders of the cause 
of freedom. The brutal attack of Preston Brooks 
upon Charles Sumner in the Senate Chamber, at 
Washington, was felt by the citizens of this town as 
a personal insult. A legal meeting of the voters was 
imiiieiliately called and resolutions adopted and 
placed upon the records. 

The people carried out their bold sentimenLs in 
their public and private acts. The advocate of free- 
iloin for the slave always .secured a hearing, and the 
homes of leading citizens were open to those who, 
early or later, espoused the cause of the bundinen. In 
the fall of iSiJO, when the two political jiarties, 
" Democrat " and " Republican," were, sub-divided 
into four, this town gave her support to the Republi- 
can, and gave a large per cent, of her votes for Abra- 
ham Lincoln. 

In the months that followed, during which the 
"Soulliern Confederacy " was formed, there was a 
feeling of deep interest in this small town bordering 
upon excitement. 



The attack upon Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, 
opened the War of the Rebellion and aroused a gen- 
eration that had never felt the devastations of war or 
learned the evolution of troops. The young men of 
Bedford, true to their ancestral record, began to en- 
list, and eleven had entered the Union Army before 
the close of the year. Among them was Cyrus Page, 
then sixty years of age, and still bearing the honorary 
title of captain, conferred upon him by the old militia 
company of the town. 

But fifteen days after the outrage upon Sumter, a 
" Liberty Pole " was erected upon the " Common " or 
"Training-Field." Oliver W. Lane, a descendant of 
the Lanes of Indian and Revolutionary fame, contrib- 
uted the most towering pine of his forest; every arti- 
.san and workman joined in the rally on April 27th, 
and raised the pole, from which the flag of the Union 
was unfurled and waved daily (luring the years ot 
bloody conflict, now raising the spirits of the people 
as it waved from its highest point, and anon hushing 
them to silence, as, from half-mast, it betokened a 
nation's sorrow. 

On June 27th, IStil, two months after the unfurling 
of the flag, and directly beneath its folds, occurred the 
first loss of life in Bedford, indirectly caused by the 
w«r. The alarm had led to a very general practice ot 
firearms, and a young man injudiciously discharged 
his pistol across the Common and killed a bright boy 
of nine years, Samuel T. Hughes. The fir.st recorded 
action on the part of the town was a vote instructing 
the selectmen to draw from the treasury, according to 
their discretion, for the support of the families of vol- 
unteers and a tender of the free use of the town hall 
"to the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society to hold their 
meetings to render aid to the sick and wounded sol- 
diers of our army." 

This society did most valuable service through the 
war, continually contributing through the various 
Christian and Sanitary Commissions. Some of the 
women gave personal service as nurses in the camp. 
In August, 18iJ2, a bounty of !?I00 was voted to each 
volunteer for nine months' service. In 1864 the town 
raised $624 to fill her quota. The sums raised by 
a vote of the town indicate but a fractional part of the 
money expended by her citizens in the cause. Not 
less than $5000 were contributed to the war by the 
town in addition to the long-continued drain by tax- 
ation. Besides the direct tax, there was the indirect 
or "Internal Revenue," which demanded, and vigi- 
lant officers collected rates upon almost every transac- 
tion. After the w.ar closed, the Ladies' Aid Society 
turned its attention to procuring funds for the erec- 
tion of a monument to the memory of those who had 
died in the struggle. 

About $1600 were earned and contributed for that 
purpose with which a suitable Scotch granite monu- 
ment li.as been erected in Shawshine Cemetery. The 
inscriptions are as follows : 

"Soldiers' Memorial, 1861-C5. They gave their lives forua and their 



30 



BEDFORD. 



couutry. The Ladies uf Bedford pay thia affectionate Tribute to their 
memory. 

"Albert L. Butler, died 18(12 ; Cliarles V.'. Goodwin, died 1802; Clark 
C. Cutler, died 18(52; Henry Ilosmer, died 1802; Thomas Isaac, died 
1863 ; James Munroo, died 18G3 ; Samuel W. Stearns, died 18C3 ; Joshua 
Atwood, died 18G4 : John Byron, died 18G4 ; Charles Coudry, died 18G4 ; 
William F. Gragg, died 18G4 ; WaiTon G. Holbrook, died 1804 ; Charles 
W. Lunt, died 18C4 ; Charles A, Saunders, died 1804. 

Memorial day is sacredly observed on each annual 
return, and the rapidly increasing listofgravesof those 
who served their country in the war receives the at- 
tention of a grateful people. 

At the memorial service of 1887, immediately fol- 
lowing the death of Captain Cyrus Page, the follow- 
ing hymn was sung. It was cmiiposed for the occa- 
sion by Abram E. Brown, and " dedicated to the 
Memory of Captain Cyrus Page and other Brave men 
who honored Bedford in the war of the Rebellion: " 

"All honor to our soldiers braye, 

Who left their home and kindred dear, 
Who nuhly fought this land to save. 
Of the oppressors' rod to clear. 

'• Their mounds we'll deck with flowerets bright ; 
Their noble deeds to children tell ; 
Through passing years and age.s' flight 
A country's pride their praise shall swell. 

'* The earthly file is narrowing fast. 

The ranks of Heaven are gaining there. 
Let's halt, and down our garlands cast, 
While for the living raise a prayer. 

" In Thee, God, we're trusting still. 
Our fathers' God, Thou too hast been. 
With joy we'll own Thy sovereign will. 
And toUowing Thee, life's battle win." 

There were enrolled as liable to do military duty 
in 1861, eighty names, and in 1862 the enrollment list 
reached eighty-seven. 

In the army roll ninety names are registered to the 
credit of Bedford. Seventy-four of them were citizens 
of the town. Six were in the service of the navy. 



CHAPTER XI. 



Fimtni'iut Troul'Us — Ohl Tenor and Lawful Mmieij — Sluvei'i/ iti Betlford— 
Bill of Sifc o/ a Negro Boy in 175(j. 



Bedfokd was incorporated at the time when the 
currency of the Province was in a very uncertain 
condition. The General Court had been issuing pa- 
per money without an adequate provision to retain its 
nominal value ; hence specie was growing scarce and 
the "Bills of Credit" were continually depreciating; 
but as these bills were almost the only medium of 
exchange, the people clamored for more and the ma- 
jority of the Legislature seemed ready to gratify them 
despite the opposition of the Royal Governor, which^ 
in 1740, occasioned a severe quarrel. Each new issue 
of "Bills of Credit" caused a decline in the value of 
the currency. In 1730 they had sunk more than 



half below their nominal value and the depreciation 
continued until 1750. The fluctuation in the value 
of this currency was a source of general embarrass- 
ment, and contracts involving annual salaries were 
fulfilled with difficulty by the most scrupulous. 

In agreeing with Rev. Nicholas Bowes, the first 
minister, the town voted " that our money shall be 
in proportion as it is now in valiacon, rising, fallin." 
The value at that time was eighteen shillings per 
ounce. The decline was so great that in 1749, the 
last year of the " Old Tenor " bills, the town voted to 
give Rev. Mr. Bowes £240 in place of £100, but he 
returned £20 for the use of the schools. In 1750 
voted to give him " £50 13s. 4d. Lawful money." 

The expectation of having the " Bills" exchanged 
for specie led many to hoard them, and it became 
difficult for the collector of taxes to get the dues of 
the Province, and the time for settling demands was 
necessarily extended. The following rhyme gives an 
idea of the change that was anticipated : 

*' And now Old Tenor, fare you well. 
No more such tattered rags we'll tell. 
New dollars pass and are made free-, 
It is a year of jubilee. 
Let us therefore good husbands be, 
And good old times we soon shall see." 

The town paid for their minister's wood in 1749 
35s. per cord " Old Tenor," and in the following year 
the price paid per cord was 4s. " Lawful money." 

In 1749 the people worked out their highway 
"Rates," and were allowed during three summer 
months 14s. each man per day, and' in the other 
months 8s. per day; a yoke of oxen with cart 8s. per 
day, "Old Tenor." In 1750 the allowance in "Law- 
ful money " for a man was 2s. per day until the last 
of September, and in the rest of the year Is. per day. 
For oxen and cart the allowance was Is. id. per day. 
The scarcity of money was felt by the people pos- 
sessed of property as well as others, and trade was 
carried on largely by barter. In the list of tax-payers 
reported in arrears in March, 1753, the names of 
leading citizens are found. By a law of the General 
Court the bilis of credit were redeemed at a rate that 
was about one-fifth less than their lowest current 
value — that is at fifty shillings for an ounce of silver, 
which was valued at 6s. 8d., or an English crown. 

Here originated the "Old Tenor" reckoning. 
March 31, 1750, marked the era of " Lawful money," 
after which date all debts were contracted on the 
specie basis of 6s. 8d. per ounce of silver and three 
ounces of silver were equal to £1. 

With the currency restored to a metallic basis and 
to a uniform value the people were free from all such 
trouble for more than twenty years. The fluctuating 
state of the currency, dwelt upon at length in the mil- 
itary section, made it difficult to adjust the ministe- 
rial rates in the years of the Revolution as it was in 
the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Bowes. In May, 1778, the 
town added to Rev. Mr. Penniman's salary, for the 



BEDFORD. 



31 



year ensuing, £66 13». id. and reimbursed him for 
bad money paid to him by the collector, princi- 
pal and interest amounting to £9 10s. In 1780, " on 
account of the decline in currency, the town gave 
him fifty bushels of Rye and fifty bushels of Indian 
Corn, to be delivered in January, 1781." In 1791 
the selectmen were authorized to sell the Continental 
money at tlieir discretion and tiie treasury was 
relieved of its burdensome paper for a nominal 
sum. £10.^2 9s. 6</. "old tenor" sold for £2 M. 2/ 
A similar dilljculty was encountered in the pastorate 
of Ilcv. Samuel Stearns. The town gave him a choice 
at first of S^333.33.^ as an annual salary or the same 
amount in beef, pork, rye and Indian corn, but past 
experience led some of the people to object to an in- 
definite salary and Mr. Stearns accepted of the defi- 
nite sum ; his letter of acceptance was accompan- 
ied with the following: "Resting assured that the 
town will not willingly see me suffer by reason of the 
depreciation of the currency hereafter." Through 
the depreciation that soon followed, Mr. Stearns was 
obliged to sell land and went in debt for about five 
hundred dollars betbre he ajipealed to the town. 

November 1(!, 1801, the town voted to lend him one 
thousand dollars, without interest, so long as he 
should supply the desk. In 1808 the town voted " to 
add the sum of three hundred dollars to his salary in 
semi-annuai payments of fifty dollars each." They 
also added two cords of wood to his annual portion. 
Tliis was both just and generous, and occa-sioned by 
the change in cost of supplies and the increase of the 
pastor's family. A fragmentary journal kept by 
Rev. Samuel Stearns in the first year of his ministry 
in Bedford shows one hundred and twenty-eight 
donations of family supplies during eight months. 
This shows how the minister was able to bring up 
and educate his large family. 

Slavery existed in Bedford, as elsewhere, though 
not attended with the evils that accompanied the in- 
human system iu many parts of the country. The 
atmosphere of Xew England, especially of Massachu- 
setts, was not favorable to its growth. Long before 
the spirit of liberty manifested itself in resistance to 
the mother country, and long before the adoption 
of the Constitution of 1780, individuals of Bedford had 
freed their slaves, who in the main were held as family 
servants, but were regarded as property, and in some 
families bought and solil like cattle. The extreme cau- 
tion taken by towns in general, and this iti particular, 
to prevent the settlement of paupers, obliged a [jerson 
who desired to free his slaves, to give bonds that the 
freed persons should not become public charges. 
This requirement, no doubt, deterred some from giv- 
ing freedom to their slaves, who were fully conscious 
of the injustice. "March y' 23, 17()1, Col. .Tohn 
Lane gave a bond to Ste|)hcn Davis, Town Treasurer, 
to save and indemnify the town of Bedford from any 
charge that may arise by reason of his negro man be- 
ing set free." Colonel Lane waa assessed in that year 



for his " negro man's minister's rate, 2' 6\" A citi- 
zen of Bedford has the original, of which the follow- 
ing is a copy : 

**T() Mr. lliirrisun gray, troasurer for tlie itroviiico of tlie MaBsaehii- 
»«tt8 bay, Hir, be plonaed to give Mr. Mosea Abbott, the bearer hereof, 
all the wages that ia due to me for my negroman, torrey more, being in 
the county service in the year I7ri7, nnder capte peaser till ho got to the 
eascel, ami Ilien went to I'rown point under Capt. elinglesh, or give nie 
an order to Mr. filoses abbott, consteble of bedford, and this receipt 
shall be your discharge, and you will oblige your hnmblo servant, 

"John Lane." 

It is evident that slaves had been kept in the I>ane 
family, as well as in others, from their earliest settle- 
ment in this territory, and that Torrey was a family 
name for the colored race in their possession, as ap- 
pears from the following copy of the original : 

"This may certify to all persons that I, Mary Lynden, of Boston, do 
sell all my right in a boy called Torrey, to John Lane, given tome ac- 
cording to a county court record 1676. Mary Lynden." 

The following is copied from the original bill now 
filed in the town : 

** Nathaniel Tay sold his negro to Mr. John Page for twenty i pound in 
money and six pound in hill. Nathaniel Tay, lOul." 

In 1704, Captain James Lane gave a bond freeing 
his slave. The records furnish other instances of 
slaves being set free by the voluntary action of the 
citizens of this town. Although treated as property, 
the colored people were permitted to enjoy many 
privileges with their masters. They had seats as- 
signed them in the meeting-house. The rite of bap- 
tism was administered, and they were admitted to full 
membership in the church, upon "owning the cove- 
nant." The church records furnish proof like the Ibl- 
lowing : 

"Uaptized, Ishmael, a negro (adult), July ye 4"", 1736." *' Baptized, 
Quimbo, a negro man who confessed, etc., July ye 30, 1751." " Baptized, 
Torrey, a negro man, January ye 12, 17ol-;V2 " "Baptized, Abraham, son 
of Jack, negro, Nov. ye 11, 1763." "Admitted inta full communion, 
Hannah Di-ury, wife of Zebedee Drury and Lois Burdo (a negro), Sept. 
yo 6l^ 1742." 

The register of deaths kept by Rev. Mr. Bowes has 
entries as follows, which suggest ownership : 

"Not. ye 2, 1737, Cuff, a negro child lelmginri to Mr. Zacheus 
Whitney." •' Aug. 3, 1749. Uomire, a negro boy, who belonged to Mr. 
John Lane." 

There is evidence that slaves were retained by some 
families until 1780, when the Constitution adopted 
by the State declared in Article I, " AH men are born 
free and equal, and have certain natural, essential 
and inalien.able rights," etc. When the articles 
of the Constitution were acted upon by the town, 
there were three opposing votes to Article I, and the 
military records show that three slaves were serving 
in the army, while by the treasurer's returns of those 
years it is seen that Captain Moore collected bounty 
and pay for services of Cambridge (a negro man). 
Other similar records are found. 

There is no evidence that any of the slaves of this 
town were permitted to accompany their masters to 
Concord on April 19, 1775, or that they were then en- 
rolled as liable to do military duty ; but when it be- 



32 



BEDFOKD. 



came apparent that war had really begun, and calls 
for men followed each other in rapid succession, the 
slaves were pressed into the service. Cambridge 
Moore, Ciesar Prescott and Cresar Jones were early re- 
corded as doing military duty, to the credit of their 
masters. When one campaign or tour was over, 
they were put into another, and so continued iu the 
service until 1780. In December of that year they 
entered the army as free men, and received bounty 
and pay like their white neighbors. May 11, 1782, 
Ca-'sar Jones signed, by " his X mark," a receipt for 
" sixty pound, E. money, as a bounty, to serve in the 
Continental Army for the term of three years." " A 
free negro," is the note appended. The following 
document is treasured in the town : 

''Know all nieu by these Presents — That I, .losoph Fitch, of Betlfoid, 
in the County of Middlesex, in the Province of the massachusetts hay 
in New England, Gentleman, for and in consideration of the Sum of 
Twenty-Four Pounds, Lawful money of New England, to me iu hand 
Paid at and before the Sealing & Delivery of these Presents, by Joseph 
Hartwell, of Bedford abovesaid. Yeoman, the Receipt whereof I Do 
hereby acknowledge, Have bargained & .Sohl & by these Presents Do 
Bargain & Sell unto tlie Said Joseph Haitwell, a Negro boy about Five 
years old, Called Jefterree, now living at the said Joseph Hartwells, to 
have & to hold the Said Negro hoy by these piesents Bargained IbeSold 
unto the said Joseph Hartwell, his Exeeutoi-s & Administrators A as- 
signs for Ever. & I, the said Joseph Fitch, for my Self, my Executors and 
.administrator's do warrant the above 8"^ Negro boy unto the Said Joseph 
Hartwell, his Executors, .\dministrator8 & Assigns, against me, and said 
Joseph Fitch my Executors, Administrators & Assigns, & against ay 
& every other Person and Persons What so ever, Shall and Will warrant 
it Defend by these Presents of which Negro boy, I, the said Joseph Fitch, 
have put the .S'* Joseph Hartwell in full Possession by Delivering S'^ 
Negro at the Sealing hereof unto the S^ Joseph Hartwell. In Witness 
Whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand .t Seal this Sixth Day of July, 
Anno Domini, t^ne thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty Six, & in the 
twenty-Ninth year of his niajisties Reign, Ac. " 

" Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of 

*' HujipHREY Pierce, 

her 

"Saeah X Pierce, 

mark 

** Joseph Fitoh." 

It is doubtfnl if .slaves set at liberty in advanced 
age, entirely inexperienced in caring for themselves, 
were benefited thereby. The records show that .sev- 
eral of them became dependent ujion public charity. 
They were treated with as much consideration by 
those in charge of the poor as were their white com- 
panions in misfortune. In 1820 " The Selectmen 
sold at vendue the wearing apparel of Dinah, a wo- 
man of color, deceased, amounting to $7.84 ; also 
bought a Baise gown for the use of Violet, a colored 
pauper, for $1.60, leaving a balance of .16.24." Violet 
was the last freed slave who died in this town. She 
was supposed to have lived a full century, and died in 
1842. John Moore, a prominent citizen of the town, 
had slaves of both sexes, and Violet is thought to 
have been the one for whom he made provision in 
his will in the year 1807, thus: " to daughters Mary 
Fitch and Lydia Bowers, the net of my personal es- 
tate, on condition that they support my negro girl in 
sickness and health, through life, and give her a de- 
cent burial." Violet's unusually long life may ac- 



count for the violation of the provision made by her 
master. 

The only memorial-stone bearing evidence that 
this race lived, served and died in Bedford was 
erected inShawshine Cemetery by Josiah A. Stearns, 
A.M., in memory of Peter, an honored family servant, 
who was buried in the " African reservation " in the 
old burial ground. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Piihlif Cfiurily, Hull' riisii,'nsr{1— Town Farm for Poor. 

Great caution was used to prevent people from be- 
coming paupers in the early days ; but when public 
support was demanded, and a settlement established, 
the poor were well treated. When a citizen admitted 
members to his family he was obliged to report to the 
selectmen and secure the town against their support 
as appears by the following: 

'* Bedford, June 21"^, 173G. I, Jacob Kendall, of Bedford, do promise 
and engage for me and my heirs to free and secure the town of Bedford 
from any charge that shall arise from the maintenance of my father and 
mother, Jacob and Alise Kendall, as witness my hand. 

."Jacob Kendall." 

People coming into town to settle, whose record 
was not fully clear, and means of support perfectly 
evident to the selectmen, were warned out of town in 
a legal manner, and caution entered at the Court 
where a record could be consulted. Thus families 
were compelled to go from town to town in a most 
unfriendly manner. The following is the form of 
warning used in this town and served by the consta- 
ble on the order of the selectman : 

"Middlesex, S. S., to A. B., one of the constables of the town of Bed- 
ford. Greeting : 

"In His Majesty's name you are hereby required to warn D. E. and 
family that they forthwith depart this town, the selectmen refusing to 
admit them as Inhahitanta, Ton are also to inquire from whence they 
last came, and what time they came to this town, and make return here- 
of under your hand with your doings therein, unto the selectmen or to 

the town clerk. DatedatB. the day of , Anno Domine. In 

the year of His IVIajesty's Reign. 

'* Per order of the Selectmen, 

"G. U.,Town Clerk." 

The records prove that parties were often warned 
from the town. "Seth Putnam and his family 
warned out of town and caution entered at March 
Court, on ye second Tuesday of March, An: Dom : 
1748-9." 

A warning cannot be con.sidered as unquestionable* 
evidence against a family ; for we find the record of 
warning against parties that appear in subsequent 
records as occupying places of trust in the community. 
Young ladies were legally warned out of town who 
became, in subsequent years, wives of leading men. 

That the selectmen were faithful in complying with 
the law is apparent by the following record: " Feb. 9, 



BEDFORD. 



33 



1767 — Mr. Thomas Page, who had received Dr. Bal- 
lard into his family, as a boarder, in Jlarch or April last, 
and never had informed thereof, being then present 
before the selectmen, it was proposed to him, by the 
selectmen, whether the Dr. Joseph should be warned 
out of town ; and he, not desiring the same, the select- 
men therefore agreed not to caution against the Dr. 
Joseph, nor yet to admit him as an inhabitant." Dr. 
Ballard was the second physician of the town, coming 
from Lancaster. He became a valuable citizen ; was 
a delegate to the Provincial Congress, in Concord, 
1774, and was a distinguished man. He died Jan. 2'.), 
1777. 

In the list of orders drawn upon the treasury it 
appears that the constables were liberally paid for 
"Entering Cautions;" one charge was seventeeen 
shillings. In 1737 the town had its first lawsuit. It 
was with the town of Concord, over the support of a 
family by the name of Koss. Hedford lost the case, but 
a feeling of unjust dealing appears, from a record 
made later, when a committee was chosen " to attend 
to the witnesses who appeared against the town in 
the suit before the Superior Court." How Ross got 
a settlement in Bedford is not clear. The Le.\ingtoii 
records show that he was warned from that town. 
The original of the constable's return is evidence that 
Bedford did not fail in trying to locate him in Con- 
cord : 

" Middlesex, S.S. Coucord, May 30'h, 1737." Ill obedieuco tutbis wiir- 
rt*nt, 1 have conveyed yo witliin uiiuied Pauiel Kose and liia wiTe unto 
ttie said town of Concord, A' delivered tlieni to one of ye constables of 
8d. town and at ye isiuie time delivered him a copy of ye witliin written 
warrant. " Ei'uhiam Davis, 

" CoiixUMt (>/ ai//or.(." 

The inhumanity of such dealing with a man at the 
age of ninety years can but arouse the indignation of 
a reader at this day. 

That the town furnished more than the necessaries 
of life for this family appears from the treasurer's 
report of 1742. " For keeping of Ross £21 Zs. Od. 
For tobaka for Ross 15«.," and another charge in the 
same year " For tobaka for Ross 8»., and for a jacket 
£\." Rev. Mr. Bowes' register of deaths shows that 
Daniel Ross died " Oct. ye 27, 1748, aged 100 yrs." 
leading to the conclusion that the appetite, so gener- 
ously gratified by the town, may have been acquired 
of the Indians long before the struggle with King 
Philip. For some years the care of the poor was let 
out annually by " public vendue," the contract being 
closed with the lowest bidder. As late as 1804 wo find 
the following action : " Dorcas Bacon put to board with 
Simeon Stearns, until next March meeting, at sixteen 
cents per week, they to get what service from her 
they could." At length this plan gave rise to dis.sat- 
isfaction. in that the worthy poor were liable to fall 
to the charge of irresponsible parties, and the duty of 
assigning homes for the i)aupers was referred to the 
selectmeD with discretionary power. In 1823 a 
written contract was made with Thomas Page for ihe 
support of the poor, and bonds were required to the 



amount of $300. Some of the specifications of the 
contract are as follows : 

" W'ith regard to their diet, they are to be provided 
with a sufficiency of good and wholesome food, with 
tea or coflee twice in each day, if they choose, with 
sweetening; cleanly and comfortable lodgings, sea- 
sonable medical aid iji case of sickness, and other 
things to make them comfortable as their condition 
may require." 

Paupers were boarded by other towns in Bedford 
families. In 1741 twenty of such are recorded here, 
some of whom were from New Hampshire. The long 
distance from their place of settlement made it possi- 
ble for great injustice to be done them by those who 
promised faithful care. In the early years of the 
town's history the needs of paupers were discussed 
in ojien town-meeting, and a detailed report made by 
the treasurer of each bill of charge for their relief. 

The records show that the needs of a poor widow 
were annually discussed in town-meeting, for many 
years, without the slightest regard for her feelings. 
Further on the charge appear.s, "for Coffin, grave & 
gloves £1 5s., and a credit for the sale of her property 
at Vendue £2 13s. 4(/." 

The treasurer's account of 1802 has the following 
charge to the town : '' Paid John Page for making a 

coffin for child and fetching the corps, 

$2.25." 

In 1833 the town voted to buy a "poor farm and 
stock it." This being done, the care of the farm and 
support of the poor was placed in the hands of a 
board of overseers, who at the town's expense, employ 
a superintendent and matron, and public charity is 
dispensed according to the most approved plans. By 
a vote of the town, a sim[ile stone, suitably inscribed, 
is placed at the grave of each pauper, thus preventing 
the increase of unknown graves in the burial-grounds. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



BUKIAL-GROUXD.?. 



A Bi'RiAi.-GROUND was indispensable to a well-reg- 
ulated town, and the incorporators of Bedford has- 
tened to assign a piece of ground convenient to the 
meeting-house for that use. October 23, 1729, "The 
selectmen met and laid out a burying-place in the 
land that Mr. Israel Putnam gave to the town." 
Later they changed the location a little, making 
mention of "a bridal way that leads from the road 
that runs from the meeting-hous to Woburn." In 
1734 the town voted "to release John Mansfield's 
rates if he will keep the brush down in the burying- 
place." Thus the citizens early manifested a regard 
for this sacred spot. Having a central location, it has 



34 



BEDFOKD. 



never been allowed to show signs of neglect that are 
too often noticed in towns of New England. For one 
hundred and eighteen years this was the only place 
of interment in town. The most careful estimate, 
aided by authentic records, leads to the conclusion 
that not less than fourteen hundred bodies have been 
returned to their kindred dust within that enclosure. 
The town set apart a corner for the burial of the 
African race, and there in the "African reservation," 
in unmarlced graves, are CufF, Dinah, Violet, Jack, 
Ishmael, Quimbo, Toney, Abraham, Doniire, Pomp, 
Caesar, Cambridge and others. In 1810 the town 
erected a house for keeping the hearse. It was in 
the southwest corner of the yard. The expense was 
148.50. The contractor agreed to prepare the ground 
and underpinning, in addition to erecting the house, 
which, according to specifications, was "to be built 
with good material and painted twice over." Here 
were safely kept the hearse, bier and pall. The old, 
cracked bell was stored here for a while, and here 
was stored the town's stock of powder and other mili- 
tary equipments, all of which were associated with 
death or a state of uselessuess. The absence of a 
record of consecration leads one to the conclusion 
that the incorporators of this town, like the earlier 
generations of settlers in New England, neither con- 
secrated their burying-ground nor dedicated their 
meeting-house by special religious service. 

The only family reservations in the burial-ground 
were such as were secured through neighborly cour- 
tesy. The ground was extended according to the 
growing needs of the community. In 1795 John 
Reed aud John Merriam were granted the privilege 
of erecting a family tomb; and in 1824 Capt. Robert 
Pulsifer buih one adjoining it. In 1824 a private 
enterprise resulted in the erection of thirteen tombs, 
on land adjoining the public ground. These became 
the sepulchres of the leading families, and delayed 
the necessity of selecting a new place of burial for 
some years. In 1835 the first steps were taken 
towards ornamenting the grounds. The town appro- 
priated the sum of fifty dollars, and trees were plant- 
ed on the borders of the yard. In the early years of 
the observance of "Arbor Day" a large number of 
trees were planted and special care given to the 
ground then abandoned for the i)urpose of inter- 
ments. The advance from the austerity of the Pil- 
grims, progress in art and improvement in the finan- 
cial standing of the sturdy yeomen is in no way more 
evident than in the memorials erected and attention 
given to the place of burial. The grim " death-head" 
gave place to the " willow and urn." In 1837 the 
first white marble slab was erected in the yard. So 
conspicuous was it, in the midst of scores of primitive 
slate stones, that it was an object of general com- 
ment. 

The tombs built for permanence became so un- 
sightly through the crumbling of the exposed ma- 
sonry that they were rebuilt in 1887. 



In 1849 the town laid out a new burial-place, about 
a mile east of the village. It is the western slope of 
a commanding hill-side, which terminates in the val- 
ley of the Shaw.shine River. 

Shavvshine (" Shawsheen ") Cemetery is of itself a 
fitting memorial of the perseverance and sacrifice of 
those who started the enterprise, all of whom now 
sleep without its borders. Both nature and art have 
contributed lavishly in making this cemetery an at- 
tractive spot. Burial lots are owned by individuals, 
subject to wise restrictions, and permanent care is in- 
sured by a deposit of funds with the town, agreeable 
to a statute of the Commonwealth, In 1852 John 
Merriam gave the town $100 to aid in fitting up the 
grounds. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Hiyhwnijs — Bridges and Haiboudi. 

The territory set off' as Bedford in 1729 was inhab- 
ited by a good number of families who had estab- 
lished homes, but it was traversed by few public 
roads. The settlers had located their homes on the 
southern slopes and where they would be the least 
liable to attacks from the Indians. Neighborly inter- 
course was carried on by the shortest cuts through 
comparatively worthless fields, and by the same wind- 
ing paths the scattered families reached the "coun- 
try road." The principal roads from town to town 
were called country roads, and were the only highways 
that received public care. The ways for local con- 
venience were designated as " Trodden Paths," and 
were obstructed by gates and bars. The road from 
Billerica to Concord was laid out " 19 12°°, 1660." 
The description of that portion of the road which 
was within the present limits of Bedford and on to 
Concord Centre, is as follows : " from ye entrance of 
Mr. Dudley's farme, until you come to Concord great 
swamp, it shall lye at least six pole wide; and from 
ye great swamp to Concord towne. Centre trees are 
marked aboute ye old road untill you come to the 
south corner of the widow foxes land ; then leaving 
the old dirty road on the right hand, and passing 
through an ojiening of the swamp, acording vnto 
trees marked in y" center of it, we continued to cram- 
field gate, and from thence, keeping the common road, 
to ye meeting-house.'' 

If one would follow the road through Bedford at 
present, he should start at Herrick's corner and con- 
tinue in the present highway to Proctor's corner and 
so on over the causeway road to the vicinity of the 
Sampson estate, entering the present highway east of 
the dwelling-house and so on in a southwesterly 
direction to the Henry Wood estate, and then con- 
tinuing to the " Virginia road," which was doubtless 



''WRfc 



- — i( 




BEDFORD. 



35 



the road first laid from Cambridge to Concord, and 
over which the pioneers of Concord brought their 
families and goods. The " Loop " by Josiah Davis is 
given by some authorities as the section of the Bil- 
lerica and Concord " Country '' road, but local records 
do not 8U|)porl such opinions. It is evident that a 
road from Billerica to Concord was marked out some 
years later which crossed the higher land, very prob- 
ably west of the present North Avenue. " Septem- 
])er 9, 1743, the selectmen made bounds to the high- 
way leading from Billerica to Concord, beginning 
at James Lane's" (Coolidgc's), "and meeting the 
present highway at' Joseph Fitches" (Wilkins' Hill). 
Tnis way must have gone below Farrell's and past 
the mill site in Captain Lane's land. 

A road from Billerica to Cambridge (Lexington) 
known as the road to Bacon's Mill, or Fitches' Mill, 
i.s first mentioned, " 16 : 1 : 63"—" Will Tay iS: 
(ieorge farley are A|>oynled to I^ay out a highway 
I'nmi the Towne, leading to Mr. Michell's farme, on 
y" South East end of Mr. Winthrop's great meadow, 
to be layed out four polls wide." The condition of 
tlie.se early roads tor many years is shown by an ac- 
tion of the town of Billerica, mentioned nineteen 
years later : 

*'23.1'".S2. Wtiereag Mr.SIu/.ey makes a coiiipluiiit for want of ye 
knowledge of ye highway from tiis farine, that liee bought of Timothy 
lirooky, to the town " (Brooks had a part of the Oakes grant now the 
Page estate), " Theselectnteii do order George ffarley, that was one of the 
coinuiittee that laid it out at ye tiret, & corp' Jn" tfreudi, forthwith to 
go and renuo ye uiarkes if y« said way, that it may bo obvious to all 
travellers; also to draw up a record as distinct that may bee, bow it 
lyes that so it may be foimd afterward without much difhculty." 

It is obvious that a public way was marked out 
from Billerica to Wilson's Mill (Staples') about as 
early as to Bacon's Mill, as it was " made passable " 
in 1683, and (piite probable that it followed the pres- 
ent discontinued highwtiy from Frost's by Hunue- 
well's. In April, ItJiH, a committee was directed " to 
lay out sufficient highway from Mr. Michael's farm, 
through Mrs. Pago's land to Shawshin River ; and 
over Shawshin River unto Lt. John Wilson's Mill to 
Cambridge line; and from the same road to lay out a 
su|)hicient highway through Mrs. Page's land unto the 
land of Patrick Fasset, unto the house of Patrick 
Fasset, and from thence to state the highway in the 
most convenient place from Patrick Fassett's house 
leading up to (/oncord Road, and from there to Mr. 
Laines." This road may, doubtless, be traced at 
present over the hill by Wilson's house (f^adds') to 
the Cnmmings road, which led eastward to Woburn, 
anil westerly by the ]>resent highway, by the cemetery, 
crossing the Lexington road at Fitches' corner, by 
Patrick Fassett's (William Page place), following the 
old road to Nathaniel Merriam's (Mudge's), and on to 
McGovern's, and over the discontinued road to the 
"Virginia" road to Concord. If "the road to Mr. 
Lane's'' is understood as beginning at Fassett's, it may 
be indicated by the present highway from Mudge's to 



the village; but if from "Concord road" to Mr. 
Lane's, it is the present highway from the Hartwell 
place to the village, which the town in 173i tried to 
make William Hartwell "easy about." There was a 
road farther south from the Concord road towards 
Cambridge. It doubtless branched off at Proctor's 
corner, before mentioned, passed Samuel Huckins' 
estate, and over Pine Hill by the Brown estate to the 
Page dwelling, and so on by the cemetery to Fassett 
or William Page estate and to Lexington, then 
" Cambridge farms." Pine Hill road appears as a 
"country" road, in a deed of conveyance in 1721, 
proving that it was a highway before Bedford was in- 
corporated. It is also described in 1718, in laying out 
a way from " Shawshine liridge" to Concord River, 
near James Lane's house.- A road from Concord to 
Woburn was undoubtedly in use before the incorpor- 
ation, and followed substantially the present Main 
Street until it met the Billerica and Cambridge road 
at the Page dwelling, which it followed as far as Web- 
ber's (Kenrick's) and then passed over " Cummiugs' 
Hill." 

Concord and Woburn road is mentioned in a 
deed as going by Josiah Fassett's in 1721. Charles 
Wood's estate was bought by James Wright, of Fas- 
sett, which aids in the above conclusion. The " bury- 
ing-place" laid out in October, 1720, was bounded on 
the Woburn road ; three months later the location 
was changed "a little to the northward,'' giving the 
present location of the burial-ground. " A bridal- 
way is alowed to goo from the road that leads from the 
meeting-house to Woburn." The bridle-way or horse 
track referred to represents, substantially, the present 
Spring Street, until it reaches the " country " road at 
Brown's corner. 

The county roads or highways thus far mentioned 
constitute, very probably, all of the public highways 
at the date of incorporation. 

The meeting-house, which was nearly completed 
before the act of incorporation was passed, naturally 
became the nucleus of the village. The site had 
been selected as a geographical centre, for it is ap- 
' parent that the dwellings were as scattering here as 
I in other locations; there is positive evidence of only 
j two within the present limits of the village, Deacon 
Israel Putnam's, and Benjamin Kidder's, which was 
occupied by Mansfield, after Kidder built the house 
now standing and owned by Miss C. M. Fitch. 
, The meeting-house was the centre from which the 
i early roads of the new town radiated. September, 1730, 
in laying out the land about the meeting-house, "a 
trodden path that goes to Deacon Nathaniel Merri- 
am's from the meeting-house" is alluded to, and 
" Mr. Bowes' compliment of land is laid out on the 
west side of the trodden path to Deacon Merriam's, 
next to Concord Old Line,'' " leaving two poles for 
convenience for the highway." As Deacon Merri- 
am's is represented by the Mudge estate of to-day, it ap- 
pears that the " trodden path " was the only road to 



36 



BEDFORD. 



the south part of the town. The reservation of 
two poles " for convenience for the highway" shows 
the width of the road later agreed upon. In l?.*?! the 
selectmen laid out the road from the nieeting-huuse 
to Stephen Davis' (John Neville's) and on to Lex- 
ington line. This is substantially the present trav- 
eled highway from the village by the Mudge place to 
John Neville's where it may be traced in front (ftrnth) 
of the house, across the fields by a deserted cellar to 
Lexington line. The present traveled road from 
Neville's to Lexington is a more modern way. The 
front entrance of the house, when built, was conveni- 
ent to the road as then traveled. 

At the same meeting a road was laid out from the 
meeting-house to John Stearns' laud. This may be 
the road which, at first, passed north of the present 
Main Street, in the rear of the Fitch dwelling, and 
connected with the "country " road after going north- 
ward to the present estate of Edward Butters. 

A road was at once laid out from Kidder's (Miss C. 
M. Fitch's) to Joseph Pitch's (Wilkins' place), "and 
over to Cedar Swamp to the land of Davis & Tay- 
lor, to Concord River meadow path." This at once 
suggests the present highway from Wilkins' Hill to 
the Sampson place. 

In the same year, 1731, a highway, two poles wide, 
was laid out from the meeting-house to Lexington, 
which may be the present road by the Hosmer and 
Jluzzy estate, over the causeway a few rods when it 
branched off to the south and passed the Mead's place 
to Lexington. In the descriptive record of this road, 
a causeway from Woolley's to Hartwell's, twenty-five 
feet wide, is mentioned, over which the road psssed 
for a short distance. All the remaining road was two 
poles wide. 

In 173-1 the road from Benjamin Kidder's (Miss 
Fitch's) to Ensign James Lane's (Cooledge) was laid 
out, and later, relieved of its curves, became the pres- 
ent North Avenue. 

In 1738 the road passing in the rear of Kidder's 
dwelling was exchanged for the present street, pass- 
ing south of the dwelling. It was widened at that 
time, and is the present Main Street from the Com- 
mon to Wilson Park. 

March 4, 173-1, " Town accepted the way that the 
selectmen layed out from south side of Oakes' farm to 
Kidder's land, so on to Deacon Israel Putnam's land 
by the buring-place, and gave him (Putnam), in ex- 
change for it, the Rangeway on the easterly side of his 
land." We here see, with slight alterations, the road 
from the springs to Main Street. In 1733-34 a road 
was laid out which corresponds with the present Con- 
cord road across the causeway (McGovern's). 

From the descriptions thus far made, it appears that 
within the first decade of the town's corporate history 
highways were laid out to each quarter of the town, 
but this does not imply that they were in condition 
for travel ; on the contrary, these acts had been little 
more than official indications of prospective highways. 



In almost every case the owners of the land were al- 
lowed gates or bars ; in some, however, the time for 
such accommodation was limited. It may be inferred 
by this that fences were to be built to divide posses- 
sions within a specified time. 

The unimproved condition of the roads made it 
easy to change locations, as it seemed wise to do, after 
more mature consideration. Several decided changes 
were made during the first ten years, and some roads, 
of which there is record, are entirely lost. 

September 18, 1732, the first highway rate was al- 
lowed {£W), and Cornet Nathaniel Page was the first 
highway surveyor, and in each succeeding year simi- 
lar sums were appropriated for the roads, but the 
roads were improved slowly, as more than a score ot 
miles had been laid out already. 

The new town was favorably situated as regarded the 
building of bridges. The expense of preparing ways 
across the streams was very small for a good many 
years. In 1736 the bridge near the Kenrick place is 
referred to as the "great bridge on the road to Lex- 
ington." 

The Hill'.s bridge "Episode," in which Billerica's 
first and perhaps only mob is .seen, caused this town 
not a little anxiety, and in 1734 'Town voted that the 
way of Hill'.s Bridge is not a public good and benefit." 

Perhaps the people of this town thereby escaped 
being forced to contribute to the building of the 
bridge and road which the Court ordered to be done. 

In 1747 the selectmen laid out a road leading from 
Joseph Fitch's house southerly, by the cedar swamp 
to the Concord and Billerica road. It passed through 
"Hastings' improvement," where he was allowed "to 
have gates or bars for a period of four years and no 
more." The road was over a trodden path before- 
mentioned. The name suggests the means of convey- 
ance of that time; the better roads were passable for 
carts, but very many of them could be traveled only 
on horse-back or on foot. Wagons were unknown, 
and the "one-horse chaise," which first appeared 
about 1800, was a luxury only enjoyed by the minis- 
ter and a few we-dlthy citizens. A special tax was 
levied on a chaise, and the aristocratic owner erected 
a house for its safe keeping. 

The system ofsupporting highways, which continued 
until the recent method of appointing a commissioner 
to direct the whole business, was early in practice 
here. A separate highway rate was assessed and men 
were allowed to work out their shares, but only on 
legal highways without a special vote of the town. In 
1745 "Col. John Lane is allowed to work out his rate 
on the way between his house and the Country Road." 
In 1748 the wages allowed were established by vote 
in town-meeting: " In the three summer months four- 
teen shillings each man pur day, in the month of 
September Eleven shillings pur day." No one was 
allowed full pay unless he was sixteen years of age. 

In 1748 a road was laid out by the Court's commit- 
tee through land of William Reed and Timothy 



BEDFORD. 



37 



Hartwe^. It was the extension from the present 
Loomis estate to connect with tlie Billerica and Cam- 
bridge road at the present ccnictory gate. Eleazer 
Davis (2d) lost his life in building thiii piece of road 
in September, 1748. 

From 1750 to 1790 but few new roads were called 
for — those already laid out were gradually improved 
— gates and bars were discontinued and an occasional 
bridle-way was opened to the public travel and care. 

About 1790 citizens of the District of Carlisle began 
to take steps to bridge Concord River. A letter from 
them, dated December 9, 1790, was discussed by the 
voters of this town and the subject-matter referred to 
a committee. 

Before that committee was ready to report, a peti- 
tion had been entered at the Court of General Ses- 
sions by the people of Carlisle and a meeting of the 
citizens of Bedford was held in December, 1791, when 
steps were taken to ascertain the best way to reach 
Concord River from the village. In the following 
February the committee reported that they had made 
surveys as follows: "From 10 milestone, near ,1. 
Fitches' to Brother Rocks, by Samuel Lane's (Huck- 
ins') two miles and one-half: From said mile-stone 
through the swamp by Job Lane's house (FarrcU's) 
to the River meadow — Oak upland — one and a third 
miles and forty-eight rods; From said milestone 
over Zachariah Fitch's causway (Sampson's) to the 
River, near Oak upland, two miles and one hundred 
rods." The committee chosen to consider the feasa- 
bility of the plan of bridging the river made an ex- 
tended report, from which the following is taken: 
"To put the bridge where it is proposed by the peti- 
tioners would require the building of a road through 
four hundred rods of meadow, deep mirey swamp 
and low, flat land, and the whole of the same lying 
in Bedford (saving eight rods), when we have neither 
stone nor earth suitable within a mile, — Therefore we 
think it very unreasonable and imposing u|M)n the 
town of Bedford for them to think for to make us 
their slaves for ever, as we shall be, if we should be 
held to maintain a highway where they propose." 
The committee urged the way by the "Brother 
Rocks," saying — "however we .ire willing for to help 
them over ttio River when they may stand upon good 
bottom, and do something for them that we trust the 
Court's committee will think honorable to the town." 
The town opposed the plan most assiduously, but the 
.Court ordered the road to be laid out in the way most 
objectionable to Bedford people, and they were 
obliged to plunge into the swamp and build the road 
and help bridge the river at an expense most trying 
to the people in the beginning. The town was di- 
vided into eight districts, with a superintendent for 
each, and the work of building the road from the 
"bar" to the river was a.ssigned in equal portions. 

The miry nature of the ground over which the 
road was built has occasioned continual outlays since 
the construction, which, with the oft-repeated calls 



for repairs upon the bridge, have led later generations 
to believe that the investigating committee of 1792 
was endowed with prophetic wisdom. The first 
bridge did not last twenty-live years, and Bedford was 
obliged to make an outlay of five hundred dollars to 
replace her portion in 1S23. In 1873 the old mud- 
sill bridge was taken away and a modern pile-bridge 
put in its place, at an expense to this town of nearly 
three thousand dollars. 

The road from Bacon's (Frost's) to Gleason's mill 
(Staple's) was opened as a public way in 1798 and 
from Hosmer and Muzzy's corner to Samuel Hart- 
well's (McGovern's) in thcsameyear. In 1800 the road 
past the present Ea.st School-house first appears as a 
town road, and in the same year the road from Web- 
ber's (Kenrick's) to Lexington Hue over the hill was 
straightened. 

At the opening of the present century a road from 
the main way to Oliver Reed's (C. L. Waits') was 
opened. The evidence of the records is that it was a 
town-way at times and at others it was private. BIr. 
Reed was allowed to work out his highway rates on 
this road by special vote of the town. 

In 1802 the town voted "to open a road from John 
Sprague's and so on to Eleazer Davis', they to give 
the land, and fence the road, all but sixty rods, which 
the town should build." It was laid out two rods 
wide, and two years were allowed for its completion, 
proving that the "Loop'' roundbyjosiah Davis' house 
was not a public way until 1804. Measures were be- 
ing taken at the same time to have the road to Lex- 
ington straightened, which was done by order of the 
Court of Sessions in 1807. The cost paid by this 
town was $1048.10. The straightening began at 
James Wright's chaise-house (Chas. Woods), and re- 
sulted in the present road over Shawshine River to 
Nathan Fitches' corner and direct to Lexington line. 

The Middlesex Turnpike, a private enterprise, 
chartered in June, 1805, caused Bedford people a 
good deal of anxiety. A committee was chosen to 
protect her interests, believing the opening of such a 
thoroughfare would tend to draw away travel from 
the village and injure the town. It was located in 
1806, crossing the town on its northeast border. The 
proprietors of the turnpike were actuated by a vain 
delusion that the new road built without regard for 
hills or ponds would attract all of the travel between 
New Hampshire, Vermont and Boston, notwithstand- 
ing the oft- repeated demand for " toll." 

They enjoyed a measure of success for awhile, but 
professional teamsters were slow to abandon the fa- 
miliar routes and discard the hospitality of the long 
established taverns in Bedford. 

The opening of the Chelmsford road in 1823 was 
encouraged by this town, and measures were adopted 
to attract travel through the village, and the loss oc- 
casioned by the turnpike was more than made up to 
the town by the new route. Six and eight-horse 
teams were continually passing through the village 



38 



BEDFOKD. 



loaded with wool, butter, cheese and produce of the 
northern farms, iu exchange for salt, molasses, dry 
goods, rum and the requisites of a " country store,'' 
and iu early winter " the roads were full " of farmers' 
teams loaded with their own fat pigs and beef and 
other products of their own industry, to be bartered 
in the markets for a years' supply of family necessar- 
ies. The charter of the Turnpike Company was re- 
pealed in 1841, and the road became a public high- 
way; by this, Bedford was burdened with another 
bridge and a section of road to maintain, which, be- 
cause of its location, was of but little benefit to the 
citizens. 

When the turnpike was opened this town was 
obliged to build two short lines of public road for the 
accommodation of families located near it. One of 
seventy-five rods, in the east part of the town, made 
a new opening to Burlington, and one in the vicinity 
of Abner Wheeler's (Ernstein's). May, 1822, the 
road from John Merriam's to Lexington, two rods 
wide, was made a town-way. But few additions were 
made to the highways after the opening of the 
Chelmsford road until the coming of the railroad. 

A short cut from Vinebrook mill (Staples') to the 
village was made by opening the road from Lyon's barn 
across Shawshine River to the old, road at Blodgett's 
house. This added another bridge to the town's care. 
The records show that while freed from building new 
roads, much attention was given to straightening and 
improving the old, but, fortunately, enough curves 
remain to preserve the rustic beauty of the town ; 
these are appreciated when driving for pleasure, but 
often condemned by the ambitious farmer in his 
haste to reach the market. In 1874 the road going 
south from the village was widened and straightened 
to accommodate the travel occasioned by the opening 
of the Middlesex Central Kailroad. Loomis Street 
was soon opened as an eastern approach to the rail- 
road station. 

"Webber" Avenue, built in 1884, and " Hillside" 
Avenue built, in 1888, were private enterprises, but 
were soon accepted by the town as public ways. 

"Fletcher" Avenue, laid out by Matthew Fletcher, 
is still a private way, but enjoyed by the public. 

Eaileoads. — In the suminer of 1873 the ground 
was formally broken and work commenced on the 
bed of the Middlesex Central Railroad in this town. 
The town invested $20,000 in the enterprise and has 
never regretted the step. In the autumn of 1874 the 
road was opened for travel from Concord to Lexing- 
ton, where it connected with the "Lexington Branch 
of the Fitchburg." The stage-coach, which had lin- 
gered here much longer than in any other town 
within equal distance of Boston, was set one side. 

In the autumn of 1877 a railroad of a two-foot 
gauge was opened between Bedford and North Biller- 
ica. A road of this kind had been operated in Wales 
with success, but none so narrow had been built in 
this country. The novelty of the road, its cheap con- 



struction and equipments attracted much attention. 
Foreign philanthropists sought for the plans and re- 
turned to Europe with cheering reports. The rolling 
stock of the road consisted of two locomotives, 
"Ariel " and " Puck ; " two passenger cars ; two 
"excursion " cars and a few others for freight. For 
some months trains made regular trips over the road, 
and the experiment was a success as far as the work- 
ing capacity was concerned, but it was a fiuancial 
failure. According to a report in the Scientific Amer- 
ican of March 16, 1878, the cost reached $60,000 while 
the estimate was $50,000 or $8000 per mile. A por- 
tion of the subscription " proved unsound or fraudu- 
lent," which, with the extra cost, unplanned for, 
placed the road in an unfortunate condition before it 
was ready for service. It was unpopular from the 
starting of the trains and never succeeded in regain- 
ing the confidence of the people in general, although 
some judicious men never lost coufldeuce in the road 
as an ultimate success pecuniarily, but time was not 
allowed to test the wisdom of the plan. The road 
was thrown into bankruptcy and the rolling stock 
sold by assignees for $9000 in June, 1878. Thus the 
loss to Billerica and Bedford became a benefit to the 
Sandy River Railroad in Jlaine, where the rolling 
stock was put to immediate use. 

Individuals were the only investors here, but they 
with many mechanics of the town, lost heavily by the 
failure, while the owners of the land through which 
the road passed were in many cases liberally com- 
pensated for damages by holding the rails, etc. 

In 1885 the Boston and Lowell Company, then con- 
trolling the Middlesex Central, built a line from 
Bedford to connect with their main line at North 
Billerica, following substantially, through this town, 
the abandoned bed of the " Narrow Gauge." The 
town invested $2000 in this enterprise. By the ad- 
dition of this line Bedford became a railroad junction, 
and is within ready access of Lowell and Boston, 
having abundant accommodations. As regards the 
time required for reaching the capital of the State, 
Bedford is to-day where Arlington was twenty years 
earlier. 



CHAPTER XV. 



Stage-Routes — PoBt-OJJlce — Postmasters — Industrie — EesidetUial Toim — hi- 
ventions. 



The opening of the Chelmsford road, so called, in 
1823, contributed greatly to the facilities for travel, 
and Bedford Centre became a popular thoroughfare. 
Competitive stage-routes were established from Con- 
cord, N. H., to Boston, in one of which Bedford mer- 
chants were stock owners. This fact, together with 
the popular roads and well-kept taverns, led to the 
selection of Bedford as a way station, where relays of 



BEDFORD. 



39 



horses were kept. Other stage lines passed through 
the vilhige, one of which was from Lowell to Woon- 
sockct. An enterprise, strange, indeed, to the present 
generation, was created by the regnlar coining and 
going of the coaches, loaded inside and out with 
merchants and tourists. A public conveyance led to 
the establishing of a post-office in Bedford and in 
1823 Klijah Stearns, Esq., was appointed the first 
postni:ister. Tlie first mail that left the town con- 
tained but one letter. Postage was an item of im- 
portance, and with many people correspondence was 
necessarily limited. The rates ranged, according to 
distance, from si.K cents to twenty-five, and pre-pay- 
ment was optional. A letter from Billerica to Bed- 
ford must necessarily go through Boston, incurring 
a postage often cents. A widow at Bedford receive<l, 
in one day, letters from four sons, who were strug- 
gling for an education in dill'ercnt schools, and her 
bill at the post-office was one dollar. The postmas- 
ters in the order of their appointments are: Elijah 
Stearns, John A. Merriam, Reuben Bacon, Thomas 
Stiles, .lonas jMunroe, Thomas Stiles, Henry A. Glea- 
son, .Alarcus B. Webber, t'harles O. Fo.\, Marcus B. 
Webber, Henry A. (ileason. 

Industkiks. — Bedford has always been cl.issed 
with the agricultural towns of the State; although in 
common with all inland settlements during the colon- 
ial i)erii)d, the people were largely engaged in sup- 
plying their own wants, hence every family conducted 
its own manufacturing. The cumbersome loom, with 
its oaken beams, spinning-wheels great and small, 
hetchel, cards and the like, were requisites here 
longer than in towns on the direct line of the first 
public coaches. With this primitive machinery the 
lamb's warm fleece was turned to cloth, and dyed with 
indigo at the chimney-corner, while the flax, from 
the fields, was made into snowy linen by the same 
deft hands that were equally skillful in manufactur- 
ing golden butter and savory cheese, not only for 
domestic use, but to exchange for other necessaries. 
The hiuisewife had her annual season for |)reparing 
the year's stock of "tallow-dips" or candles and 
manufacturing soap for family use. 

The blacksmith hammered out the miils of all sizes, 
and with the aid of the woodwright -supplied the 
farmer with all his tools. The itinerant cubbler made 
the boots and shots from leather tanned in the neigh- 
borhood vat. The village had its brick-Kiln. Char- 
coal was manufactured and Tarkiln Brook (crossing 
the south part of the town) suggests a day when the 
sap of the early forests w;us boiled to tar and resin on 
its winding banks. When the brave pioneer's life 
WHS over the village carpenter made the coffin for his 
body. It was early in the present century that the 
pe<»ple of Bedford began to contribute to the increas- 
ing demands of a growing population outside of its 
own borders. In 1805 Jonathan Bacon and John 
Hosmer began the manufacture of children's shoes 
for Boston market. They were both of an inventive 



mind, — made their own lasts and prepared their own 
patterns. The business increased and other firms 
engaged in the enterprise ; among them were Benjamin 
Simonds, Zebedee Simonds, Reuben Bacon, Cham- 
berlin & Billings. Several hundred iieople of both 
sexes were employed. Young men from other locali- 
ties were apprenticed in the service of the different 
firms, many of whom settled here and became leaders 
in public affairs. When the business was at its 
height the annual sales amounted to upwards of 
ninety thousand pairs, at an estimated value of fifty 
thousand dollars. This was all hand work, and the 
employes were, to an individual, American born. "No 
shoes were in better credit than those made in Bed- 
ford." When machinery was introduced elsewhere, 
and all classes of (>coi>le were employed in producing 
all grades of work, the demand for the superior arti- 
cles, made here, gradually slackened, and after a time 
the business entirely ceased. Another enterprise car- 
ried on here quite extensively, when the shoe business 
was at its meridian, was the manufacture of band- 
boxes. Women were employed chiefly and many 
young women were attracted to the town to engage in 
this employment. Not a few of them formed holy alli- 
ances with the young men of the shoe firms and 
together became the founders of some of the most 
enterprising families. 

freorge Fisk in the north part of the town and 
.\masa Lane in the east carried on this line of manu- 
facturing. At first thinly-shaved wood for the foun- 
dation work was obtained from New Hampshire, but 
later a machine was introduced and the whole 
work was done here. The size of the boxes varied 
according to the fashion of the ladies' bonnets, which 
was variable in those days, as at the i)resent, and 
created a demand e<iual to the supply. 

About the year 1812, inquiring minds were turned 
to a geological formation that had already been used 
for paint. The first meeting-house, when repaired 
after the Revolution, was painted with the material 
known as the "Bedford Yellow." As before men- 
tioned, it was found in the largest quantities on the 
S|)rague farm. Thom|)soii Bacon and others engaged 
in the enterprise. For some years it was used as a 
mineral paint — yellow ochre. 

A stratum of clay was discovered on the southern 
border of the town and citizens engaged in the man- 
ufacture of bricks for local use. The clay was teamed 
to the centre, where a kiln was prej)ared and sufficient 
quantities burnt to build several houses and chim- 
neys for others. The manufacture of charcoal be- 
came an important industry at one time. David 
Rice, the village blacksmith, burnt the coal for his 
own forges in a field near Carlisle bridge, while in 
the south fields the business was carried on more ex- 
tensively, a market being found in and about Boston. 

About the year 1830, Jonathan Bacon invented and 
patented a blind fastener known to the trade as 
" Bacon's Patent Lever Blind Fastener." They were 



40 



BEDFORD. 



made by hand aud were the most approved article of 
the kind in the niarl>:et for some years. In the year 
1832 about 4000 sets were made in town. Mr. Bacon 
received encouragement from Edward Everett, wlio 
pronounced the first pattern exhibited to be an arti- 
cle of value, as it proved to be. This patent was a 
source of a good income to Mr. Bacon, »nd the man- 
ufacture of them gave employment to several work- 
men in iron. Tanning and currying as an industry 
was carried on in the latter part of the eighteenth 
century and the opening years of the nineteenth. It 
was carried on at the centre by James Wright, Sr. 
aud Jr., successively, and by the Convers family in 
the south part of the town. It was chiefly of local in- 
terest and prepared leather for home market. The 
farmers' habit of wearing leather aprons and sheep- 
skin breeches created a local demand, long since dis- 
continued. The bark for tanning was ground by re- 
volving stones after the manner of a corn-mill. The 
Wrights were succeeded by Benjamin F. Thompson, 
who in after years removed the industry to Woburn. 

About 1840 a paper-mill was established on the site of 
the Wilson corn-mill, on Vine Brook, and the manu- 
facture of coarse paper was carried on for a series of 
years, giving employment to many hands. The busi- 
ness was removed after the destruction of the mill by 
fire, causing the removal of one-tenth of the inhabit- 
ants of the town. After this calamity the indus- 
tries, " with the exception of the manufacture of local 
necessities," were chiefly agricultural, until after the 
close of the Civil War. The opening of the Middle- 
sex Central Railroad in 1873 furnished direct and 
easy communication with Boston, only fifteen miles 
distant, and prepared the way for a decided change, 
which is now rapidly taking place. Men, whose bus- 
iness centres are in Boston, are establishing homes, 
and the centre of the town is fast becoming a resi- 
dential village. 

The old system of farming is giving way to the cul- 
ture of small fruits and vegetables, and acres are cov- 
ered with glass for the purpose of securing early 
crops. The Colonel Jones farm of colonial days, in 
the west part of the town, comprising many acres oi 
the "Great Fields" sought by the first settlers, is 
being used for the propagation of nursery stock. 

Grazing has become an important feature of agri- 
culture, and the production of milk for Boston mar- 
ket has increased rapidly with the improved facilities 
for transportation. About six hundred and fifty cans 
of eight quarts each are daily shipped from Bedford. 
Many tons of superior quality of hay are annually 
produced, for which there is a good local market. 
Acres are annually planted with cucumbers, for which 
a ready market is found at a packing-house where 
cucumbers, gathered when quite small, are manufac- 
tured into pickles. 

A wood factory for the manufacture of miscellane- 
ous articles, gives employment to several men, and the 
town has its complement of cartwrights, black- 



smiths and other artisans. Several men are employed 
with teams in marketing wood, cut from the forests 
of the town, but the growth keeps even pace with 
the consumption. The "Bacon Snow Plow," invent- 
ed by Isaac P. Bacon, is considered the best horse- 
machine in use for clearing snow from sidewalks, and 
is used in the large towns of the county. The inven- 
tor died without having secured a patent and the in- 
dustry is lost to the town. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Springs— Lefkes — Ponds— Pjiblic-Homes — Bedford Sj>rittgs. 

The streams of the town have never contributed 
very largely to its industries, although in the early 
days there were more i)hices where the water-power 
was utilized than at present. Manufacturers have 
been benefited by damming the Concord River near 
its confluence with the Merrimack, while the people of 
Bedford have seen their broad meadows depreciate in 
value by the overflow of the banks. Peppergrass 
Brook, which drains the western slope of the village, 
furnished power for a saw-mill at the opening of the 
present century ; the mill was located on the southerly 
portion of Winthrop farm and owned by Job Lane. 
The Winthrop, or Great Meadow Brook, was utilized 
by the early inhabitants; a remnant of the dam is 
now to be seen on the left side of the highway in go- 
ing from the village to the East School-house. Far- 
ther down the same brook and near Sandy Brook 
bridge was another mill. There is evidence of an 
early mill near Farley Brook. The natural ponds 
cover but a small area. The dams at the saw-mills 
on Shawshine River and Vine Brook have aided in 
forming small ponds where ice is gathered for local 
use. "Spring Pond '' or "Fawn Lake" covers seve- 
eral acres, and is fed by a succession of springs ; it is 
a beautiful sheet of water and adds much to the at- 
tractiveness of the estate. 

PoBLit-HoDSES. — Benjamin Danforth and Walter 
Pollard were the inn-keepers of the town, very 
soon after the incorporation, and possibly furnished 
entertainment to travelers before the town was organ- 
ized. The early records show that Danforth and Pol- 
lard each had bills against the town for entertainment 
as early as 1738. The former was doubtless located on 
or near the site of the " Shawshine House," and was 
succeeded in business by Captain John Webber and 
his son, John Webber, Jr. The Pollard Tavern was 
near the Job Lane Mill, and the Fitzgerald house of 
the present is thought to represent the original house, 
in part. It was re-located after the discontinuance of 
the highway from James Lane's to Thaddeus Fitches'. 
Tradition furnishes proof of the honesty of Pollard by 



BEDFORD. 



41 



' showing that he represented goods, offered for sale, in 
their true condition, thus : " Want to buy any yellow 
pork?" saya Walter Pollard. "Think not," says 
Job Lane. Jeremiah Fitch, Jr., opened a tavern 
about the year 170(;. It was there that the minute- 
men of the town lunched on the morning of April 
9, 1775. The (>i)ening of the stage routes and the iii- 

'ase of teaming tlirough the town led to the open- 
ing of a tavern towards the close of the eighteenth 
century. Its location was near the present corner of 
Concord Street and Park Avenue. It was first kept 
by I'iiineas Chamberlain ; he died in 1809, and his 
successors were Stearns, Porter, Flint, llurd and 
Phelps. The house was destroyed by fire in 1837. 
At the opposite end of the village David Reed opened 
a tavern in 1797, and conducted the business until his 
death in 1832. The present "Bedford House" was 
built in the first quarter of the present century, as a 
private house, by Joshua Page. It was soon enlarged 
and turned into a public-house, and has been so kept 
until the present. In 1888 the sale of intoxicating 
liquor was suppressed in the town, and the property 
]iurchased by a stock company. The house now fur- 
nishes the comforts of a first-class suburban hotel. 

" Bedford Springs" is located about one and four- 
fifths miles north of atid on the Billerica side of lied - 
ford \'illage. The name is derived from three natural 
fountains strongly impregnated with mineral proper- 
ties. This place was included within the Oakes farm, 
which consisted of 150 acres, granted by Cambridge 
to Captain (iookin, in exchange for his lot on the 
township, and by him sold to Thomas Oakes. It is 
evident that the lake and never-failing springs of pure 
water attracted the attention of the aborigines long 
before 1643-44, when " Shaweshin was granted to 
Cambridge." 

Family traditions furnish unmistakable evidence 
leading to this conclusion. 

The keen students of nature early detected the 
remedial properties of the bubbling springs. The 
Pawtucket Indians had settlements in this vicinity 
•and their medicine-men resorted to these waters. 
Scatteritig remnants of the tribe made occasional vis- 
its long after the Wamcsick Purchase of KjSr), by 
which " all manner of Indian rights and claims to that 
parcel of land granted by the General Court to the 
town of Billerica" were honorably extinguished. 

Mrs. Franklin Stearns, of Billerica, who was born 
in 1801, tells the following : " My mother, who lived 
near the springs, often told me that .she remembered 
distinctly when the Indians came a long distance to 
fill their leathern bottles with water from the springs 
and told her, when stopping at her home, that it was 
medicine." These children of the forest also brought 
their sick to bathe in the waters. This evidence 
seems to have been lost sight of, and the instinct of 
the brute creation was needed to lead man to this 
fountain of health. About 1835 the farm was owned 
by Augustus Pierce. It consisted chiefly of woodland 



and pasture land. The owner furnished pasturage for 
the villagers' cattle. It was noticed that the cattle 
always went to the springs for water rather than to 
the open pond, and that cows having access to the 
springs were in better condition and gave better milk 
than those confined in neighboring pastures, where 
the grass was better, but the water was taken from 
other sources. This led to the analysis of the water 
by Dr. Jackson, of Boston, whose report, confirmed 
by later chemists, gave rise to the present beautiful 
health resort. 

A company was soon formed who bought the real 
estate, and a commodious building was erected for 
hotel purposes. The enterprise was never a financial 
success until the Billerica and Bedford Railroad was 
put into operation. The estate was purchased by 
William R. Hayden, M.D., in 1856. It then com- 
prised forty acres of land with the hotel, stable, bath- 
house and bowling alley. It now comprises 175 acres, 
with buildings added, at a cost of $25,000. An equal 
sum has been expended on the grounds, making one 
of the most attractive health resorts within equal dis- 
tance of Boston. 

Here is the laboratory of the New York Pharma- 
ceutical Company, of which Dr. Hayden is president. 
They make here 350 diflerent preparations for drug- 
gists and practicing phj'sicians, of which Hayden's 
Viburnum Compound, The Uric Solvent and Phos- 
phorus Pills are the principal. More than 25,000 
pounds of the Viburnum Compound were shipped 
from this place during the last year (1889). 

The Billerica and Bedford Railroad passes over the 
western border of the grounds, making the resort 
within convenient access of Boston and Lowell. The 
hotel, now under the proprietorship of William 
Adams, is filled with' guests of prominence during the 
summer months. A post-office was established here 
in 1888, of which Dr. Hayden is the ])ostmaster. 

Bedford Springs is a distinct natural feature of the 
town, and the pharmaceutical works are entirely sep- 
arate from all other enterprises, but they, together 
constitute the most .attractive feature of the town. 
A sketch of the life of William R. Hayden, through 
whose perseverance natural possibilities have become 
realities, and whose fertile brain has produced a 
blessing world-wide in its extent, will be found else- 
where in this connection. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Pire-Eiigitt«— Enforcement 0/ Laws— Drink Custom— Witchcraft— Bounty 
for Crowi, etc. 



The first action of the town towards procuring a 
machine for extinguishing fire was in October, 1827, 



42 



BEDFORD. 



when 1225 (two hundred and twenty-five dollars) 
were appropriated for that purpose, "providing the 
sum could be increased to an amount sufficient to 
purchase an engine with equipments for service." 
This was done by organizing a stock company of 
nineteen members, each owning a share, the par 
value being fl5 (fifteen dollars). Each owner of a 
share held a certificate which, by vote of the town, 
entitled the bearer (i>rovided he bo deemed eligible) 
to a preference ,in the appointment of engine-men, 
who were annually appointed by the selectmen, 
agreeable to the statutes of Massachusetts. In 1845 
hooks and ladders were added to the apparatus, but 
fortunately there was but little use for the machinery, 
and but little attention was paid to it after a few 
years. 

In 1879, after a disastrous conflagration, the town 
voted to buy a suction hand-fiie-engine, and the sum 
of $475 (four hundred and seventy-five dollars) was 
appropriated for it. This being done, the "Shaw- 
sheen Elngine Company," of forty member.s, was 
formed, and paid an annual fee of $2 (two dollars) 
each. 

The " Winthrop Hook-and-Ladder Company " was 
also organized, and in 1883 the annual compensation 
was increased for the members of both companies to 
six dollars. Cisterns for the storage of water were 
built in 1888, and the town is well protected against 
the ravages of fire, at an annual expense of about 
$300 (three hundred dollars). 

Bedford has .always been jealous of its good name, 
and made h.aste to mete out justice to any who, by 
violation of law, have brought reproach upon it. 
In March, 1797, and for several succeeding years, 
officers were chosen to prevent theft, with instruc- 
tions to pursue oflenders to justice at the public ex- 
pense. At this time there was a family in town so 
addicted to larceny that its members would steal 
from each other. The vigilance of the officers is ap- 
parent, as one of the fiimily was brought to condign 
punishment by being tied to an apple-tree (in the 
absence of a whipping-post) in the village, and pub- 
licly and leg.ally whipped with thirty stripes. This 
was the second oftence ; a third was punishable " by 
the pains of death without the benefit of clergy.'' 
This act of justice was not sufficient to deter other 
members of the family from similar offences, and the 
town was not rid of the family until two farmers, 
whose estates joined that of the otl'enders, purchased 
their farm, upon condition that they should not re- 
locate in the town. 

A greater evil, the sale of intoxicating liquors, met 
with but little opposition until 1828. The customs 
of society here, as elsewhere, gave full endorsement 
to the free use of ardent spirits in public and private. 
The "flowing bowl" was prominent on both solemn 
and joyful occasions. The records are remarkably 
free from itemized bills for liquors, but the oft-re- 
peated charges for " entertainment," together with 



traditions, leave no room for doubt as to the nature 
of the entertainment furnished at the public charge. 
In 1804 the use of liquor at funerals was abolished by 
vote of the town. In 1822 a committee was chosen 
to repair the Common, free of expense to the town 
for Labor; but they were allowed to furnish "those 
that do the work with some s|)irit at the expense of 
the town." It is doubtful whether it would not have 
been more economical to have paid for the labor. In 
1834 the overseers of the poor were instructed not to 
furnish ardent spirits for the poor unless directed by 
a physician. The first temperance society was organ- 
ized in 1830, and moral su.asion was faithfully ap- 
plied, but it was not until 1SS8 that the State law was 
made eftectual, through the vigilance of the "Law 
and Order League." To remove unfortunate possi- 
bilities, public-spirited men purchased the Bedford 
House property and organized a stock company. 

The witchcraft delusion, that had been such a 
scourge in the Colony, had left its effect upon credu- 
lous minds in this town. There were those who at- 
tributed every mysterious occurrence to an eccentric 
old woman. They believed she was responsible for the 
power that is now seen in a balky horse — refusing to 
advance, or a wheel to revolve on a neglected axle. 
There is a tradition that in the early years of the 
Revolution, when the British troops were stationed 
in Boston, this woman, in the disguise of a Tory, had 
a concerted meeting with some of the proud officers 
of the army. She represented to them that she had 
a great secret, which she would reveal upon their 
paying a heavy fee. The officers, anxious to engage 
in the enterprise, met her, upon agreement, at mid- 
night near her own home. On being satisfied that 
the booty was in the chaise of the officers, she led 
them, by the dim light of a flickering candle, across 
a narrow plank which served as a temporary bridge 
over a swollen stream into a dark recess ; she then 
extinguished her light, recrossed the bridge, which 
she pulled after her, secured the bags of English coin 
and went home. The ambitious officers, foiled in 
their undertaking, gladly left the town, but not until 
4,hey had aroused a fiimily and obtained aid in the 
search for their team and guidance back to Boston. 

It appears that the early farmers of Bedford were 
greatly annoyed and their crops seriously damaged 
by the crows, blackbirds and squirrels. This was a 
prevalent evil in the Province, so much so that the 
General Court enacted a law in 1740-41 authorizing 
towns to pay a bounty on the heads of the little 
creatures, and were reimbursed from the Province 
treasury. There was allowed " for every dozen of 
blackbirds taken in their nests, and not fledged, 
twelve pence ; for the like number of blackbirds 
grown and fledged, three shillings; for each crow, 
six jience, and for every water I'at, gray squirrel and 
grourid-squirrel, four pence." The town indorsed 
this law at once, and the boys, stimulated by a bounty 
for the work of destruction, entered upon a competi- 



BEDFORD. 



43 



tive war of extermination. The treasurer's report of 
1741 shows twenty-two orders " given to pareons for 
squirrels and birds," amounting to £12 14.<(. 8d. 

The list includes the names of the leading men of 
the town. As orders were only drawn for the parents, 
the number of individuals enlisted in the work of 
destruction is not determined, but there were, doubt- 
less, as many as one hundred, and the records show 
that the practice was continued for years. One boy, 
William Webber, in his eagerness, mistook an owl's 
nest for that of a crow's, and when about to capture 
the fledglings w.as attacked by the mother owl, which 
plucked out one of his eyes, subdued the youth and 
provided a priceless meal for her brood. In hS'J.'J the 
town voted ''not to allow Robbins to be killed in the 
town this year." In 1829 voted " to pay twenty cents 
for old and ten cents for young crow's heads, caught 
and killed within the limits of the town." 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



}*rofanity itml DnmktrnueM Pimittied bit Lntp — Tittinigineii <ntd their 
DuHm— Minor Qtlicers—Emjlifh lUoht. 



At the time of the incorporation of Bedford, pro- 
fanity and drunkenness had become flagrant crimes 
in the Province, and occasioned special legislation. 
In 1734 the following act was passed by the General 
Court: 

" Whoever shall be convicted of piophane swearing 
or cursing shall, for the first offence, forfeit and pay 
the sum often shillings ; and for every such oath or 
curse after the first, uttered at the same time and in 
the hearing of the same person or persons, the sum of 
two shillings, and for a second offence the fine was 
ten shillings." The fine for drunkenness was ten 
shillings for the first offence, and twice that for a rep- 
etition. In order that the law should be enforced, 
tithingmon were annually chosen as town officers. 
Their general duty appears to have been to promote 
the Divine honor and the spiritual welfare of the peo- 
ple, by encouraging family worship and discipline, 
and checking profanity. Sabbath-breaking, idleness, 
intemperance and kindred immoralities. The official 
title, " Tithingmen, or tenth men," originated from 
their having a tithing, or a company of ten families, 
each to oversee, including their own. Two such offi- 
cers only were chosen at the first town-meeting, and 
as subseijuent records furnish no evidence of an in- 
crease in number, it may be inferred that the people 
were disposed to obey the laws here better than in 
some places. 

The most respectable voters of the town, often the 
deacons of the church, were elected to this office and 
sworn to the faithful discharge of the duties. 

They were required by law to make complaint to 



the magistrate of what they saw amiss in any one 
under their inspection. Long poles or staffs were 
furnished as instruments of authority, and espe- 
cially used in the meeting-house during public 
worship. In the expenses for 1742, Oliver Pollard 
has a charge of " 4 shillings for tithing men's staves." 
The faithfulness of the officers appears in a record of 
1704, in which Stephen Davis, treasurer, gives credit 
for "4 shillings for a line foraprophaneoath." It was 
the balance after deducting the cost of the prosecu- 
tion. Tithingmen were annually chosen by the 
town until 1848, but their duties had long before fal- 
len to other officers. In March, 1822, Deacon Michael 
Crosby, Zebedee Siraonds, James Webber and Elijah 
Stearns, Esq., were chosen as tithingmen and sworn 
to the faithful discharge of the trust. They were in- 
structed to keep such order on Lord's day in the 
meeting-house and the Centre School-house as they 
may think proper. By virtue of a law of the Prov- 
ince of 1739-40, deer-reeves were annually chosen with 
the other officers of the town. The record of Decem- 
ber 17, 1739, has the following : Voted, " that viola- 
tion of the act relating to killing of Dear in the prov- 
ince be legally prosecuted. Major John Lane and 
Mr. Thomas WooUey be for that service sworn to the 
faithful discharge of the trust." Hog-reeves were 
chosen at the first election of officers in the town, and 
annually thereafter. As the town voted that the 
swine should go at large, according to tlie restrictions 
of the law, the duty of the hog-reef was to see that 
the animals were properly yoked from April to Octo- 
ber. The remaining months they were allowed to go 
free and untrammeled. 

" The English Right" an annuity from estates in 
the mother country, was of great assistance to some 
of the early families. The Lanes and Pages were the 
beneficiaries for several generations. It originated in 
New England with Job Lane (before mentioned) and 
came to the Page family, through the marriage of a 
granddaughter with Nathaniel Page, the second of 
the name in this country, who was born in England 
and came a youth with his father, Nathaniel, to 
Boston in 1082, and to Bedford (then Billerica) in 
1087. xV fragmentary correspondence, consisting of 
scores of letters and bills, dating from lOol, between 
the custodians of the English estates and Job Lane, 
is among the interesting papers treasured in Bedford. 
The annual remittance was sometimes made in mer- 
chandise according to the requests of the owners, 
as appears from items preserved. "May 2, 1721, 
St. Stephen writes alone: Sende G large quarto 
bibles," one of which is now owned by Miss Sarah 
Chandler, of Lexington. It contains the Page family 
record. A letter dated " London Mar. 20, 1754, to 
Job & John Lane," expresses regret that " the Bibles 
did not suit." , 

"July 20, 1748, Zach. Bourryan sends Mathew 
Henry's Exposition on ye Bible 5 and vols." Dress 
fabrics were often ordered and received, and two of 



44 



BEDFORD. 



the ladies of Bedford appeared on important occasions 
attired in the " Englisii Gowns." The arrival of the 
large leather-covered trunks were occasions of much 
interest to the several families. It is evident that the 
town did not fail to exact a tax on the income, as aj)- 
pears from the records of 1744 : Voted " not to abate 
the Kates that the Lanes and Pages — gentlemen — 
were assest for their income from England." During 
the Revolution the income was not received and 
the privations of that period were felt more severely 
by those families than by others that had depended 
upon their own energies entirely; but after peace 
was restored with England the full amount came in 
one remittance. The English law of primogeniture 
was not transferred to this country. New England 
adopted the older rule of the common law, by which 
all the children shared alike in their parents' estate, 
except in Massachusetts, where the oldest son had 
a double portion. The legal claimants of the Lane 
income at length became very numerous, and the just 
division very difficult ; hence the claims were sold in 
the early part of the present century. 

Job Lane died.in Maiden, August 24, 1G97, and his 
estate was inventoried at £2030 lis., the larger por- 
tion of which was in New England. 

Other families received aid from England in the 
early years of the town's history, as appears from the 
following : " Feb. 23, 1750, Widow French's rates 
abated for income at England." 

The following is a copy of the goods ordered by 
one of the heirs of the Lane estate: 

" Bedford, September tlie Ifi, 17S5. 
" Mr. Lane, this is to TuforTii you what Articles I ani nesiroua to semi 
to England for. 
"Art. Frst. one Pice of Chents for one goiind, Very Dark. 
"Art. 2«1. one Pico of Sattain for one Cloak. 
•'Art. 3tl. One half Pice of Base. 

"Art. 4th. one yard A three-quarters of Scarlet Brad Cloth. 
"Art. 5th. one .Silk Handkerchief. 
" Art. 6th. The Rest in fine Linnen. 

•*Iu So Doing you will oblige, 

" Cina'T Paoe." 



CHAPTER XIX. 



NOTED OCCASION.?. 



The ordination services at the settling of the minis- 
ters, mentioned in the Ecclesiastical section, compris- 
ed all of the convocations of note previous to the year 
1800. On the 22d of February of that year a most 
imposing ceremony was participated in by the whole 
town in honor of General George Washington, who 
had died in the closing days of the last century. Rev. 
Samuel Stearns delivered the memorial sermon. 

In the various anniversary celebrations of Concord 
fight, held by the mother town, Bedford has been 
well reiJresented. In March, 1850, ten leading men 



were chosen to confer with the people of Concord in 
regard to the seventy-fifth anniversary, and three of 
the vice-presidents were from this town at that cele- 
bration. At the centennial, April 19, 1875, a good 
company of civilians was in the procession with ban- 
ners. The one carried by Bedford minute-men one 
century earlier was borne by Isaac E. Fitch, and one 
with the following inscription : " Captain Jonathan 
Wilson killed April 19, 1775. He died for us and 
Liberty," was carried by Abram E. Brown. Both 
•standard-bearers were great-grandsons of those who 
fought on the memorable day at Concord. 

On Memorial Day, 1874, the Soldiers' Monument 
was dedicated with imposing ceremonies. The parent 
towns of Billerica and Concord assisted in the ser- 
vices. The former furnishing a Post of the G. A. R. and 
brass band and the latter sent Company C, of the 
Fifth Regiment, and a brass band. Josiah A. Stearns, 
A.M., was president of the day ; Ralph Waldo Emer- 
son, Sampson Mason and Rev. William .1. Batt were 
among the speakers. 

The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the in- 
corporation of the town was the grand jubilee day of 
its existence. At the autumn town-meeting, Sep- 
tember 30, 1878, it was voted that the town would ob- 
serve this occasion. Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, D.D., 
one of Bedford's sons, was chosen to jirepare an his- 
torical address, and a large committee of citizens was 
chosen to conduct the celebration. The committee 
organized with Josiah A. Stearns, chairman ; Rev. 
George F. Lovejoy, secretary, and Oliver J. Lane, 
treasurer. 

The funds for the celebration were obtained by sub- 
scription ; more than six hundred dollars were con- 
tributed to the general fund ; besides, there were many 
generous contributions for special objects. 

When plans were so far matured as to issue notices 
and invitations, the committee called for a name for 
the celebration, and Mr. Elijah W. Stearns, the vil- 
lage druggist, called from his ancient Latin the nu- 
merical adjective " Sescjui " (one and a half ). This 
gave the occasion a tinge of novelty and added spice 
to the post-prandial remarks. 

August 27th, the day on which " the Great and 
General Court " that granted the charter for the 
town commenced its session, was selected for the cele- 
bration rather than September 23d, the date of the 
act of incorporation. This was to accommodate sons 
of Bedford engaged in literary work who were then 
enjoying their annual season of rest. 

A mammoth tent was erected on the fields near the 
Common, where the exercises were held and the din- 
ner served. 

The occasion was replete with interest for young 
and old. For judicious planning and careful execu- 
tion, the Sesqui Centennial of Bedford is recorded 
as an event that reflects credit upon all who contrib- 
uted to its success. Chief among many were the 
historian and president of the day, both of whom, 



BEDFORD. 



45 



with a brother, the last of the sons of Bedford's hon- 
ored minister (Rev. Samuel Stearns), have, since that 
da)', joined the great conii)any tliat they labored to 
honor through that celebration. 

Tlie organization of the church, which took place 
in July following the incorporation of the town, was 
celebrated in July, 1880, by the Churcli of Christ, 
connected with tlie Trinitarian Congregational Soci- 
ety. Kcv. (ieorge i\ Lovejoy, pastor of tiie church, 
l)reaoIied an historical discourse, which was printed 
in i)ampliiet form. Attlie conclusion of the .services a 
thank otl'ering was made and the society freed from 
debt. 

The fiftieth anniversary of tlie gathering of the first 
Sabbath-scliool was held in .Inly, 1S(j,S. It was an 
occasion of general interest. Rev. William F.Stearns, 
D.D., president of Amherst College, and other sons 
of Bedford, were prominent in the celebration. 

The seventieth anniversary was another important 
event, when a general reunion was enjoyed. The his- 
tory of the school, in pamphlet form, was i.ssued at 
that time. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Topogyrtphical and MisceUtineotis. 

Bedford is in about the central part of ^fiddlesex 
County, fourteen miles northwest of Boston and 
twelve miles south of Lowell. It is connected with 
both cities by rail. 

It has Billerica on the north, the same with Bur- 
lington and Le.xington on the east, Lexington, Lin- 
coln and Concord on the south, and Concord and Car- 
lisle on the west, from which it is separated by Con- 
cord River. 

The village stands on a slight elevation and con- 
stitutes a water-shed. I'eppergrass Brook extends in 
a winding northwesterly course and Trout Brook in 
a southwesterly course to Concord River. Shawsliine 
River enters the town from I^incoln at its extreme 
southern point and Hows the entire length of the town, 
east of the village, entering Billerica at the north. It 
receives the waters of Tar Kiln Brook soon after enter- 
ing Bedford, and after crossing Lexington Main 
Street it receives Elm Brook, which drains a long 
range of meadows on the Concord side and takes in 
Hart well Brook on its course. 

Spring Brook, an outlet of Fawn Lake at Bedford 
Springs, unites with Potash Brook or Ash Gutter in 
its southeasterly course to the Shawshine, which it 
reaches near the East School-house. Vine Brook 
enters the town from the east and becomes an import- 
ant tributary of Shawshine River. Other small 
streams are tributary to either Concord or Shawshine 
Rivers. The only motive-powers, utilized at present 
are on the Shawshine River and Vine Brook. 



" The soil," says Alfred C. Lane, of Boston, a grand- 
son of Bedford, in "Notes on Geology of Bedford,'' 
"may be divided into three kinds — the dark peat of 
the swamps and meadows, boulder clay and high 
level sand-beds." 

The peat is found on the lines of the water-courses, 
where a considerable portion of the surface appears to 
have been formed of vegetable matter and was used 
for fuel, before the development of coal-mines ; a firm 
white sand subsoil which underlies this vegetable de- 
posit made it comparatively easy to cut out the peat 
or turf in convenient pieces to stack for drying. It is 
also used as a very good fertilizer for the sandy soil of 
high lands. The cranberry and an inferior quality of 
grass are natural productions of this soil, and turned 
to some profit by the farmer. The boulder clay is 
composed of sand, pebbles and boulders, together 
with clay varying in rpiantities according to the lo- 
cation. This is supposed to have drifted here with 
the ice and been deposited during the glacial period. 
The underlying ledge crops out in some locations 
and shows unmistakable signs of the southerly course 
of the ice-fields. The most noticeable is in the vicin- 
ity of the North School-house. 

The boulder clay is the soil found in the northerly 
part of the town, more generally than elsewhere ; it 
is hard to cultivate, but productive when broken and 
fertilized ; if left in its natural condition it produces 
the huckleberry and other small fruits of compara- 
tively little value. 

The sand, besides forming the subsoil of the peat 
lands, is thrown up many feet above the stream level 
and found in beds ; by digging in these beds one may 
easily detect layers of successive deposit, which indi- 
cate the action of the water when the ice was disap- 
pearing, before any well-defined water-courses had ap- 
peared and this territory was an inland lake. The 
pine trees seem to be the natural production of this 
soil, which is light and dry, but when enriched be- 
comes productive and is easily cultivated. 

In general the geological formation is calcare()U3 
gneiss and sienite, in which are found good specimens 
of garnet. " In Bedford the strike of the gnei.ss is 
northeast and the dip nearly perpendicular." Hitch- 
cock mentions the yellow ochre in connection with a 
rusty mica schist. 

Bedford is indicated as a locality for garnet by 
Dana and Hitchcock both, and at one time the at- 
tention of the people was turned to this formation, as 
of merchantable value, but it was not remunerative. 
The iron and sulphur springs indicate the decompo- 
sition of certain mineral properties that are visible in 
some locations about Bedford Springs. 

The village is well drained and free from miasmatic 
inlluences. It is classed among the very first locali- 
ities of the State in point of health fulness. No de- 
structive contagion has visited the town since about 
ITSO, when a throat distemper batlled the skill of phy- 
sicians and brought sorrow to families in the east part 



46 



BEDFOKD. 



of the towu. Longevity is noticeable in the families 
that represent the first settlers and particularly in the 
Davis, Lane, Page and Hartwell families. 

Trees. — Besides the pine already mentioned, there 
is the white cedar, that takes kindly to the peat 
of the low lands in the vicinity of Concord Kiver, and 
the red cedar found in small quantities, making its 
slow growth in the boulder clay, where oak, maple 
and birch flourish the most abundantly ; the elm 
flourishes here, having been planted by the early 
settlers for shade, and many venerable specimens are 
standing — useful monuments of the past. Flora: 
The following is condensed from alocalwork, "Some 
of the Wild Flowers of Bedford," by Charles W. 
Jenks, a careful student of the soil and productions 
of his ancestral territory : 

"The wild flowers of Bedford are neither numerous 
nor rare. We have few deep valleys of rich soil, and 
few running brooks falling over rocks, both of which 
localities are the chosen haunts of many species. The 
earliest, perhaps, of all our flowers is one rarely no- 
ticed, the skunk cabbage, which may often be found 
in March, with its peculiar spathe of yellow or red, 
peeping out from some damp or swampy place. 

"Soon after, along the banks of ditches or in low 
meadows, the cassandra or leather leaf, with its long 
line of heath-like bells; this plant, if gathered in fall 
or winter and kept in a warm room, will blossom 
freely. Together with this is generally found the 
sweet-gale, a low shrub with small and insignificant 
catkins, but having a delicious aromatic fragrance. 
Then, after the hazels and alders have Hung their 
delicate tassels to the wind, the whole array of spring 
flowers is upon us — seven species of violets, blue and 
white (the yellow I have never seen in the towu 
limits, though I have found it in the neighborhood); 
the wood anemone, with its neat and prettier rela- 
tion the rue anemone, the columbine or honey- 
suckle, the houstonia, the false Solomon's seal, often 
called wild lily of the valley, and that little marvel 
of beauty ahd color, the fringed polygala, the marsh 
marigold, under the false name of ' cowslip,' lighting 
up the meadows with its brilliant yellow, and occa- 
sionally, on some rocky land, the early saxifrage, the 
bell-bower with its pale yellow lily-like flower, and 
deep in some pine grove the moccasin flower or lady's 
slipper, one of the most curious of the remarkable 
family of orchids, the trillium or wake Robin, which 
among us is represented by its least attractive form, 
the nodding species — these, with many others, make 
up what may be called the spring flowers. Then the 
shrubs begin to blossom — the shad-bush, the rhodora, 
with its purple flowers, followed by the many vibur- 
nums and cornels, the wild cherry, the choke, and the 
more palatable black or rum-cherry, the barberry, 
with its nodding raceme of yellow flowers, whose 
sensitive stamens throw the pollen on to any insect 
visiting it, to be borne to some other flower ; the low 



and high bush blueberry, huckleberry and the azalea, 
with its clammy white and spicy flowers. 

"About the middle of June, in the meadows, will be 
found the side-saddle flower, more commonly known 
as huntsman's-cup or pitcher-plant ; about the same 
time of the year, and generally with the side-saddle 
flower, are found two of our early orchids, the are- 
thusa and pogonia or adder's-tongue, resembling each 
other in shape, — the former of a deep magenta color 
and the latter much paler, but with a delicious frag- 
rance. A little later, in these same meadows, will be 
found the yellow lily, the tall meadow-rue, the trum- 
pet-weed with its large heads of dull purple and the 
button-bush with its globular head of flowers, while 
hidden in the grass, but making itself known by its 
odor, is the meadow mint. Then along some w.iter- 
course, either ditch, brook or meadow, bursts forth 
the flaming cardinal flower, one of the brightest 
and most brilliant of all our flowers, and never 
so handsome as when seen in abundance in its native 
place. With this fore-runner of autumn come the 
goldenrods ; the clematis, clothing the bushes over 
which it climbs with a beautiful wreath of white 
flowers, followed by the feathery fruit; the ground- 
nut, with clusters of fragrant chocolate-colored 
flowers ; the clethra or white alder lining the road 
in some swampy place and sending forth a rich 
spicy odor from its pure white spikes ; then the 
asters, purple and white, along the roads, the wood- 
lands and meadows, of as many species and as diffi- 
cult of determination as the golden-rods; the gerar- 
dias, the tall yellow and the smaller purple species; 
the gentians, the deep blue with its closed flower, 
and among our latest, if not the last of all, the 
fringed gentian, by many considered our most ex- 
quisite flower. The only companion of the gentian is 
the witch-hazel, with its weird-like yellow blossoms, 
which comes late in the fall and does not mature its 
fruit till the next season. 

"The plants found in and along the river seem wor- 
thy of special mention. Among the earliest is the 
yellow water-crowfoot, which is found in May, and 
resembles a large buttercup. Later in the season the 
shores are lined with the blue pickerel-weed and the 
white arrow-head, while farther out are the white 
and yellow pond lilies, — the latter in two species, one 
much larger than the other; the bladder-worts are 
also found. "In August the hibiscus or swamp rose- 
mallow may be found on its banks, while in the river 
itself is the water-marigold and the beautiful floating- 
heart. 

"The family of composites is largely represented at 
all seasons of the year. The dandelion, golden-rods, 
asters, cone-flower, wild sunflower, trumpet, iron- 
weed, thistle, hawk-weeds, climbing hemp-weed, ele- ' 
campane, white-weed or ox-eye daisy, and tansy are 
of this family. Among the orchids are the lady's- 
slipper, pogonia and arethusa, four or five species of 
rein-orchis, including the ragged-fringed and the pur- 



BEDFORD. 



47 



pie-fringed, the rattlesnake plantain, two species of 
ladies' tresses, the calopogoii and rarely the coral- 
root. 

"There arc a few parasitic plants found in Bedford, 
the dodder being one of the commonest; the Indian- 
pipe is found in some of our woods an<l in many 
pine woods, the pine sap or false beechdrops, and 
rarely tlie one-flowered cancer-root. Rushes, sedges 
and ferns are also found here and furnish interesting 
study to any one enjoying the science of botany." 



CHAPTER XX[. 



Early Methoil of CoUectinj^ Taxes — Some Early CastomH <tnil Iniproventoilfi. 

For many years the town was divided for the pur- 
pose of taxation into classes. They were designated 
as the south list and the north list. The two con- 
stables were the authorized collectors and the duty of 
levying the tax fell to the selectmen. The tax for 
each department of government was a.ssessed by itself, 
which made the duties of these officers the most im- 
portant within thegift of the town. 

In the year 173(), after the expenses of organizing 
the town and church had been met, the rates and 
portions were as lollows and entered upon the records 
as here given : 

£. s. ,1 f. s. d. 

Province tax 07 2 

Nothnniel Pago is to collect .... .16 n :i Ncnili 

Daulcl Taylor i8 to collect .... .3018 'l Soiilli 

County tax 4 ;) ti 

Nathaniel Page ifl to coHect .... 2 8 ;i North 

Daniel Taylor Is to collect .... 213 South 

Itev, Mr. Bowes" salary 120 

Nathaniel Pago la to collect .... G4 14 2 North 

Daniel Taylor is to collect .... 55 5 10 South 

Town ami School tax 91 '.) 

Nathaniel Page is to collect .... 49 11 8 North 

Daniel Taylor la to collect .... 41 17 4 South 

Constables were required to use severe means, even 
to resort to imprisonment, to secure the collection of 
the " rates."' 

The following is a copy of the warrant issued to the 
constable for the collection of the taxes in 1743 : (But 
two punctuation marks appear in the original, and 
they might be regarded as accidental) 

" Miildx Ss. To Zttcheriah Fitch ou« of the cons' of the Town of BoJ- 
fonl GreoUuK In Ilia Slajeatya name you are Reiiuired to levy and col- 
lect of the several ]>areoua named in the list liorewith coiuniitled unto 
yon each his respective proportion therein sot down of the sum total of 
audi list being fare ajwesnient granted anti agreed upon by the Inhabit- 
anta of the town of Bedford Ilegularly asaetnbled lor ilefreying the nessa- 
sary cliargoa arising with iii the same and to deliver and Jiay in the sum 
and sums whli'h shall ao levy and collect unto John Wliitmore Town 
Treasurer or where yon shall have orders from the selectmen, and to 
cumploat and make np an accompt of your collectiuna of the whole 
sum at or l>efore the tlrat day of Juno next in serving the date bear of 
and if any parson or parsons shall neglect or refuse to make payment of the 
aum or auius whereat he or they are Koapectively assessed aud sot in the 



said list to destrain the goods or chatties of such parson or parsons to the 
value thereof and the distress or distresses' so taken to keep by the space 
of four days at the cost and charge of the owner and if the owner do not 
pay the sum or sums of money so assessed upon him with four days than 
the sd distress or distresses so taken you are to e.\poso and openly sell at 
an out-cry for payment of sd money and charges notice of such sail 
being posted up in some publick place within the same Town Twenty 
fore hours before hand and the over pluso coming by the sdsail If any 
he beside the ^uni or sums of the oasessnieut and the charges of taking 
and keeping of the distress and distresses to he Imedirttely restored to the 
owner and for want of goods or cdiattels whereon to make distress you 
are to seese the bodie or bodies of the parson *or parsons so refusing and 
him or thoni commit unto the conmnm goal of the aaid County there to 
remain until he lU' they pay and salislie the several sum or sums whereat 
they are Uospectively assessed as aforesaid unless upon aplication made 
to the Court of general Sessiims of the peace the same or any part there- 
of be abatted 

Dated in Bedford October y" 17"' day I74;t 

by orders of the aasessoi-a ISK.\EL Putnam 

. Tomi Cterky 

The following is the tax-list of Bedford in 1748: 

So«t/i /.(.«(. —Sanuiel Baron, Stephen Davis, James Dodson, Joseph 
Fitch, Zacbariab I'itch, Peter Fawset, John l-'asset, Benjamin Fusset, 
Joseph Hartwoll, Henry Harrington. William Hastings, James Iluusten, 
.lohn Jterriam, Amos Alorriam, Samuel Morriam, Nathaniel jilerriam, 
.lohn Moore, .losei>h Meads, Walter Powevs, Paul Raymond, William 
liaynu>nd, Kdward Stearns, .lames liankin, l)avi<l Taylor, Thomas 
Woolly, Jonathan Woolly, Thonuis Woolly, Jr., Richard Wheeler, Sam- 
uel Whitaker. North /.iit.— (Plied Abbot, Josiah Bacon, Josiali Bacon, 
Jr., Benjamin Bacon, Michael Bacon, John Bacon, Thomas Bacon, 
Jonas Bowman, James Chambers, John Corbet, Samuel Dulton, Benja- 
min Danforlh, Cornelius Dandley, Benjamin Fitch, Jeremiah Fitch, Jo- 
siah Fasset, Jonathan tirime.s, Benjajuin Hutchinson, Timothy Hartwell, 
Benjamin Kidder, Deacon Joli Lane, Col. John Lane, Capt. James Lane, 
John Lone, Jr., Job Lane, Jr., John Lane, (;!il), Timothy Lane. 

The basis of suffrage in 1810 appears in the warrant 
for the spring meeting: "To the freeholders and 
other votable inhabitants of said town, qualified to 
vote in town-meetings, namely, such as pay to one 
single tax, besides the jjoll or polls, a sum equal to 
two-thirds of a single poll tax." 

In 1812 "a voter must have been a resident for the 
space of one year, and have been taxed during said 
time for his poll. The property qualification was 
then declared to be a "freehold income of ten dollars 
or other j.iroperty viiUied at .'i!2()0." 

The changes in the ob.servance of funeral rites, as 
indicated by the records of this town, have been as 
great as in any direction. The custom of holding any 
religious service at the burial of the dead was not 
general when this town was incorporated, but it was 
the custom to furnish mourning friends with certain 
articles of wearing apparel, and the custom was ob- 
served in some families in a modified form until a 
much later date. The following receipt is self-ex- 
plaining: 

"Boston, Juno 24, 171.'), Reed, of Mr. Job I.ane, of Billerira, y« sum 
of ten pounds, at twice, for gloves for y funeral of his father." " I .say 
roced by mo,— Bi:nj. Fitch.'* 

Rev. Samuel Stearns was instrumental iu breaking 
up the drink habit at funerals, which was carried to a 
most ridiculous extreme in .some cases. In 1804 the 
town voted "That the practice of carrying round 
drink publicly or in a public manner, and also of in- 
viting the bearers to return to the house of mourning 
after the funeral, be laid aside." It .was also voted 



48 



BEDFORD. 



" That notice be given to those who are desired to of- 
ficiate as bearers, previous to the time appointed for 
attending the funeral. That two or more suitable 
persons be appointed by the town to superintend on 
these solemn occasions. That prayer be attended 
in one hour after the time appointed for the funeral." 
In 1817, after the erection of the new meeting-house, 
and purchase of the new bell, it was voted "That the 
bell should be tolled one hour before the time set for 
the funeral service. It was also customary to notify the 
people of the death of a fellow-citizen by tolling the 
bell and indicating the age of the deceased by the 
number of strokes of the bell. On the Sabbath fol- 
lowing a death, all of the members of the family were 
expected to attend the service of public worship at 
the meeting-house and present written petitions for a 
remembrance in the "long prayer." The "note for 
prayers" was expressed according to the case — that of 
a widow was as follows : " Mrs. B. desires prayer that 
the death of her husband may be sanctified to her 
and her family for their spiritual good." Petitions 
were also sent in for prayers for recovery of the sick, 
or delivery from impending danger. It was expected 
that the pastor would make early calls on Monday 
following, upon all of the sick who had thus asked an 
interest In the public prayer. 

In 1810 Mr. William Page gave a hearse to the 
town. Until that time the dead were carried to the 
burial-ground on the shoulders of men. When intox- 
icating liquor was too freely used the scene became 
most disgracei'ul. It was a repetition of these scenes 
that led to the action of reform by the town. 

The erection of the frame of a building — "a raising" 
— was an occasion where the sublime and ridiculous 
were strangely combined. The people of the town 
assembled in large companies, and aided in putting 
the massive oak timbers together and pulling the frame 
into place, a side at a time. The minister was ex- 
pected to attend and offer prayer during the work, 
and all were treated to as much liquor as they would 
drink. At the raising of Colonel Timothy Jones' 
house, about the year 1780, tradition says, the Rev. 
Mr. Penniman gratified his appetite for strong drink 
so much that he oflered one of his most peculiar ad- 
dresses to the Deity, and when returning home fell 
from his horse and lost his wig. This was found by the 
boys, and some days later put in a hollow log near 
his house, when the owner was called upon by the 
boys to assist in capturing a wood-chuck that had 
lodged in the log, and there found his much-needed 
article of dress, instead of the little animal. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



WILLIAM RICHARDSON HAYDEX, M.D. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Salem, Mass., 
May 7, 1820, in a house on the opposite corner to the 
one in which White was murdered bj' the Knapps 



and Crowninshield. In 1821 his parents removed to 
Moultonborough, N. H., where they lived a few years, 
and William was sent to the village school for a brief 
term. The family next moved to Boston, which was 
to be the scene of the boy's development into man- 
hood. He attended the North Bennet Street School, 
under the instruction of "Master Capen." His 
father was lost at sea, and the family having no re- 
served means, the mother was thrown upon her own 
resources for their support. 

About this time William entered the law-office of 
the Hon. James T. Austin & Sons, Joy's Building, as 
errand boy, for the liberal salary of one dollar per 
week, where he remained one year, at the end of 
which time he went to live in the family of Mr. An- 
sel Lucas, at South Abington, Mass., where he had 
the opportunity of attending school, and where he 
made good progress. At the end of eighteen months 
Mr. Lucas moved to Eel River, now Chiltonville, a 
suburb of Plymouth, where he remained until the 
death of Mrs. Lucas, who was a most estimable lady, 
and very much beloved by all who knew her. 

William, who was then sixteen years old, returned 
to Boston, to be his own lord and master, with but 
little experience in the ways of the business world. 
Being of a sanguine temperament the future appeared 
to him to be all beauty and sunshine. Oh, Youth I 
Oh, Hope ! angels of beauty and love, you are kind 
only to be cruel, and when dark clouds overcast your 
gorgeously painted sky, despair is near. William soon 
found that the price of honest bread was labor, and 
that he must find employment, which he did with 
Mr. Tucker, one of the original conductors on the 
Boston & Worcester Railroad, in delivering letters, 
packages and money parcels from the railroad to par- 
ties in Boston, dividing with Mr. Tucker the proceeds 
of this primitive express business. At that time Mr. 
Harnden was ticket master in the Boston & Worces- 
ter depot, which position he resigned to succeed 
young Hayden, and at that time commenced the reg- 
ular express business between Boston and New York, 
which has now become so important and extensive. 

The next scene was the pit of the old Flag Alley 
Theatre, and the first appearance of our hero in a i)lay- 
house. The mimic world was a new revelation, and 
from that hour he was simply " stage-struck." He hung 
around the stage-door to see the tinsel kings, queens 
and villains enter and exit. They were the beings of 
romance. 

The next scene was the old Fredonia Society, in 
Devonshire Street, where John B. Gough, William 
O. Eaton, John Salmon, George A. Wyatt and other 
noted amateurs delighted the " Hoodlums" and our 
subject played Dork- in " A Race for a Dinner." The 
favor accorded to the Fredonia gave life to the His- 
trionic Society, which was well fitted up for the times 
in Castle Hall, corner of Castle and Washington 
Streets, which sent forth several noted actors, amongst 
them James Stark, Octavus Johnson, Harry Paul 



BEDFORD. 



49 



and others. There was a rivalry between Stark and 
Ilayden for leading parts. At one time Mr. Stark, 
being manager, and desiring to ))lay the leading part 
in the play called " The Seven Clerks ; or. The Three 
Thieves and the Denouncer,'" cast Hayden in a minor 
comic part out of his line, much to his chagrin. 
Feeling the slight and that he should not do himself 
credit, he went on the stage sure that he would fail, 
but instead of that he made a brilliant success, play- 
ing the part twenty-one nights to overflowing houses. 
He was afterwards elected president and manager of 
the society, but as there was no income from amateur 
theatricals, he entered the Old National Theatre under 
William Pelby as a supenuimerary and assistant 
property man. 

Tiie child prodigy, Miss Davenport, during an en- 
gagement at " The National," in one scene of a play 
in which she appeared had to pay oflT some factory 
help, who filed before her and received their tin 
money. Several passed her in due order accepting 
their pittance, when onr hero, being the last and not 
being satisfied with his jiarl and aspiring to be author 
and actor, accepted the coin with all the disdain of 
which he was master, threw it upon the stage, and 
with folded arms stalked down to' the foot lights and 
out at the promptei's entrance. The audience saw the 
" gag " and cheered the "supe" to the echo. Man- 
ager l'en)y was a witness of the debut, and coming 
down to Wright, the (irompter, exclaimed, " Who in 
hell is that boy ? " On being informed he said, " Give 
him some small business ; he will rise." Desiring to 
obtain a position in the company of the Old Lion 
Theatre, there being no opening for a novice, he ac- 
cepted a place as a supernumerary in the play of " Jla- 
/.eppa." The actor who had a short sjieeeh to make as 
a sentinel on a bridge, being taken suddenly ill, the 
manager gave orders to have one of the super numer- 
ics placed on the bridge and when Mazeppa entered 
the wing and molloned him to go oil', he should do so. 
Hayden was the one placed there, and having become 
familiar with the lines, he, instead of leaving the 
bridge, went on with the part, much to the surprise 
and satisfaction of the manager, and continued in the 
part until the piece was withdrawn. He next joined 
a strolling company of players as leading man and 
"did" some of the prominent towns in this State. 
The business was bail, the manager stranded, and his 
company with empty pockets were obliged to " foot it 
to Boston." Mr. Hayden established the Dramatic 
Mirror, which, however, after a few months, died of 
what the iloctors would call "marasmus." He next 
became a clerk for Mr. George W. Redding, a news 
agent at No. S State Street, Boston. 

When W. H. Smith, the eminent actor, was man- 
ager of the Boston Museum, he gave Mr. Hayden an 
engagement at that theatre, but on account of sickness 
this engagement was canceled, and, much to his re- 
gret, his theatrical career closed. 

Dr. Hayden has been thrice married — first to Re- 



becca Wyman Erskine, in 1840, by whom he had 
three children, one of whom still survives (Mrs. R. 
W. Rouse, of Port Richmond, New York). Mrs. 
Hayden died in 1S47. 

For his second wife, in 1850, he married Maria B. 
Trenholm, of Falmouth, a lady possessing remarkable 
intellectual abilitie.s. In 18(3(5 she graduated in New 
York as a physician, and for several years hada large 
and inlluential practice, and was on the Board of 
iMedical Censors. Mrs. Hayden had four children, 
two of whom survive her, she dying in 1884. 

In 1885, for the third wife, he married Sarah Hol- 
den Everett, by whom he has three children, who are 
now living. 

In 1845 he commenced the study of medicine, grad- 
uating in New York City, where he followed his pro- 
fession for eleven years, when he moved East to accept 
the presidency of the New York Pharmaceutical 
Company the laboratory of which is now in successful 
operation, making P)5() medicinal preparations for the 
physicians and druggists, threeof them beingspecial- 
ties from original jirescriptions of Dr. Hayden, and 
are in high repute with the medical profession. They 
are The Compound Phosi'uoeus Pills, The 
Ukic Solvent and Hayden's Viburnum Com- 
pound, the latter having a most extensive sale, and 
being of a remarkable character. The company has 
received and published the written testimonials of 
more than five thousand physicians, being more than 
was ever before given by the profession for any other 
special remedy in the history of medicine. At the 
end of the first year after the incorporation of the 
company it virtually failed, and proposed to close up 
the business. To this Dr. Hayden objected and en- 
deavored to arrange to carry on the works on his own 
responsibility. After much negotiation a trade was 
made, which at the end of twenty-fouryears is a great 
success. 

In 18()7, when Dr. Hayden came to Bedford, there 
was no railroad nearer to Bedford and the Springs 
than Lexington (six miles distant). Dr. Hayden 
went before the Legislature and obtained a charter 
for a line from Lexington to Bedford, which was built 
by the Middlesex Central Railroad Company. 

The next move w:i8 tor a narrow-gauge road from 
Bedford to the Springs and North Billerica, which 
was also built. Dr. Hayden being the second president 
of the road, which practically was a success. Dr. 
Hayden, who desired this road changed to a standard- 
gauge road, enlisted in its behalf the co-operation and 
able services of Mr. Mellen, the general manager of 
the Boston & Lowell Railroad, without wdiose favor 
it would not have been done. Some idea may be 
gained of Dr. Hayden's labors when we state that at 
one time he was president of the New York Pharma- 
ceutical Company ; working chemist and pharmacist, 
doing all the compounding in the laboratory ; land- 
lord of the Springs House Hotel for sixteen years ; 
having for six or eight years the larger part of the 



50 



BEDFORD. 



practice in the town of Bedford, two miles distant; 
visiting Boston upon an average of five times a week ; 
having for the past twenty-five years written all the 
company's hand-books and advertisements, attend- 
ing to the general business, and carried on a farm of 
forty acres. During Dr. Haydeu's residence in Bed- 
ford he has served the town one term on the Board of 
Selectmen, and two terms on the School Board, and 
received a very large majority of the votes of the town 
for the Legislature. During the past three years Dr. 
Hayden has built two laboratories and one of the most 
beautiful houses in the country, and made an ex- 
tended tour of Europe, from Ireland to Italy, Austria, 
Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, 
England and Scotland. 

Dr. Hayden has visited Europe several times and 
made the acquaintance of some distinguished men, 
among them Lord Lytton (BulwerLytton) Professor 
John Ashburner, Louie Blond, the Rev. James 
Smyth, and the great Robert Owen, Robert Cham- 
bers and many others, and in this country he enjoyed 
the personal acquaintance of William Lloyd Garri- 
son, Horace Greeley, Theodore Parker and other re- 
formers. 

Bedford Springs, the residence of Dr. Hayden, is 
one of the most beautiful spots in New England, six- 
teen miles from Boston, on the Bedford and Billerica 
Railroad. The estate comprises about two hundred 
acres of cleared and wood land, one of the largest arti- 
ficial lakes in the State, a summer hotel, three medic- 
inal springs, railroad station, express and post-ofiice, 
and is a little world in itself. 

In religion Dr. Hayden is an agnostic, in politics 
a progressive Republican, believing in the party when 
it is in the right, but never when in the wrong. His 
creed is, " Right and Justice for all men and women 
alike." 



JONATHAN BACON. 

Jonathan Bacon was descended from Michael Bacon, 
who went from England to the north of Ireland, 
where he lived for several years, when, in 1640, he 
came to this country and settled in Connecticut. 
Michael Bacon, son of Blichael, settled in that part 
of Billerica which is now within the limits of Bed- 
ford. He built a saw and grist-mill on Shawshine 
River, which was burned by the Indians in King 
Philip's War. At his request a military guard was 
detailed for his protection, and his mill was rebuilt. 
A saw and grist-mill, owned by Charles Clark, now 
stands on the site occupied by him. In the early 
history of Bedford, which was incorporated in 1720, 
the Bacon family was a prominent one. In a petition 
to the selectmen of Concord for permission to be set 
off as a new town, dated May 1, 1728, the name of 
Joseph Bacon appears, and at the first town-meeting 
of Bedford, held October 6, 1729, Jonathan Bacon was 
chosen one of the Board of Selectmen. Among the 
taxable inhabitants of Bedford, in 1748, were Samuel 



Bacon, Josiah Bacon, Josiah Bacon, Jr., Benjamin 
Bacon, Michael Bacon, John Bacon and Thomas 
Bacon. In 1780 ,Tonas Bacon enlisted as a soldier in 
the Revolution, and Jonathan Bacon was one of the 
signers to the covenant of the first church in Bedford, 
organized immediately after the incorporation of the 
town. Benjamin Bacon, who was born December 6, 
1713, and died October 1, 1701, was chosen a deacon 
of this church February 1.3, 1750. 

Thompson Bacon, son of John Bacon, of Bedford, 
and a member of this family, married Martha Hos- 
mer and had nine children — Jonathan, John, Reuben, 
Elbridge, Thompson, Eliza, Nancy, Octavius and 
Albert. Of these, Reuben was an extensive manu- 
facturer of shoes in Bedford, and Albert is still living 
in his native town. Another of these children, Jona- 
than, the subject of this sketch, was born in Bedford 
April 15,1785. With only the advantages of a common- 
school education, he was in his early life employed on 
his father's farm. Po.ssessing a naturally thoughtful 
mind, his attention was soon turned to mechanical 
|)ursuits, in which he displayed an ingenuity which 
laid the foundation of his eventual success. Associated 
with John Hosmer, he was the first in this country to 
engage in the manufacture of women's and children's 
shoes, and his careful management resulted in the 
establishment of a profitable enterprise, which grad- 
ually increased and before many years was carried 
on by a considerable number of firms. 

In connection with his shoe business he made pat- 
terns for Lasts, and for shoes, which he manufactured 
himself, and thus opened the way for the display of 
his inventive powers in a broader field. He soon 
found that new mechanical enterprises, more conge- 
nial to his tastes, required the abandonment of his 
manufacture of shoes, and, selling out that business, 
he ever after devoted himself to inventive study and 
the manufacture of such devices as were its result, 
and their sale to the trade. George H. Gray, Joseph 
West, Charles Brooks and Horton, Hall & Co., of 
Boston, were among the principal dealers in his arti- 
cles of manufacture. Among these devices were sash 
and blind fastenings, latches and various carriage 
appliances, of which the article known as " Bacon's 
Patent Lever Blind Fastener " has been lor upwards 
of fifty years on the market, and has never yet been 
equalled by anything used for the same purpose. 

Mr. Bacon married Abigail, daughter of Eben 
Clark, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, an officer 
in the Revolution, and at one time on the staff of 
General Washington. His children were Abigail, 
who married William Ripley, of Abington; Clark, 
who married Emma C. Burr, of Hingham ; Frederick, 
who married Ann Robbins, of Bedford; Caroline, who 
married Isaac Hurd, of Concord ; Eliza, who married 
Prescott J. Bigelow, of Abington ; Warren, who mar- 
ried Lucy A. Lawrence, of Bedford ; Jerome A., who 
married Marion M. Darling, of Boston, Eliza F. Mer- 
riam, of Boston, and Anna R. March, of Bedford ; 



\ 



BEDFORD. 



ol 



and Eniiua A., who maivied Sebastian Kramer, 
of Huston. 

Mr. IJacon. though largely interested in jmb- 
lie affairs, neither sought nor accepted office 
except such as he believed that he could admin- 
ister for the ben;'tit and welfare of his native 
town. lie was chairman of the l!oard of Select- 
nu-n of Bedford for many years, only consenting 
to an election because he believed it the duty of 
every citizen to bear his share of town bnrdens, 
and to perform his part of a townsman's duty. 
Further than this he refused to go, and at one 
time declined a nomination (equivalent to an 
election) to the State Senate. In i)olitics he 
was a Federalist and Whig, and as long as he 
lived, after the organization of the Republiean 
[party, he was one of its devoted members. Civil 
service reform, so far as a part of its policy is 
concerned, would, if he were now living, be no 
novelty to him. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Public Criinnils — Devil of ISacI: Common — Location of J'lililic 
Huililiniis— Wilson Park. 

If 1 were ;i iiainter, I could paint 
The ilwartcil anil stiaggling wood, 

And the hill.^ide where the meeting-house 
With wooden lielfry stood, 

A dozen steps from the door, —alone, 

On four sipiare pillars of rough gray stone. 

Alice Takv. 

This town has but few parks or public grounds. 
The "Training Field, or Common," now com- 
prises the land about the meeting-honse wliieli 
was erected in 1816 by the town. 

The enclosed tract represents but a fractional 
part of the land at first held by the town foi- 
public ]iurposes. According to records referred 
to in a previous cha])ter, the gifts of land in 
1729 "towards the encouragement of the new 



As louii 



ago 



as August 28, 1840, during the town " annjunted to' thirteen acres, but it is evi- 



llarrison campaign, he drew up and signed a 
constitution for a political association advocating 
the election of General Harrison as president, in 
which, ojjposition was declared "to members of 
Congress distributing executive patronage until 
two years after they had ceased to be such," He 
belonged to that class of men whom older read- 
ers well remember, distributed all over the Com- 



dent that a much larger portion was held by the 
town. It is [possible that the tract given by the 
several donors proved by survey to contain more 
than the recorded promise indicated, as was the 
case in the Winthrop farm. It a])]jears from 
the vote of Oct. 13, 1729, that land was obtained 
by purchase as well as by gift. "Samuel Fitch 
and Stephen Davis were chosen to tacke cear of 



monwealtli, some in almost every town, who i t'^e Bond and to tacke the Deed for the Town 
ruled the communities in whicli they lived, not ' of the land that Wadkins that- he sold to the 



by wire-[)ulling. trickery and self-se'eking, but 
by advice and counsel, sought and followed on 
account of their wisdom, and by an honest and 
earnest effort to put the best men in office, and 
thus [promote and secure the public welfare. 

In theology he belonged to what was called 
in his day the liberal wing of Ortliodoxy, and 
remained in the old church and jparish when 
they became Unitarians and the conservative 
wing organized a separate society. 

It will ncpt be difficult to [portray the charac- 
ter of the man thus briefly sketched. With a 
mind elastic and susceptible of ex[)ansion and 



Commeety." This doubtless refers to land bar- 
gained for before the incorporation, on which to 
begin the meeting-house in anticipation of the 
new township. As the only committee at work 
before the incorjjorating act was [passed, that 
needed land, was the building committee, the 
conclusion most naturally is that the land on 
which the meeting-house was erected was ob- 
tained by purchase, and not by gift, as tradition 
has led many to believe. 

Sixteen acres of the comuKPii land went to 
Eev. Nicholas Bowes as a portion of his settle- 
ment fee ; about one acre was "assigned for a 



growth, with a training which had im|danted i '^^"''•'^l S™"'"! i» tlie lot given by Israel Putnam ; 
within him a love of truth, integrity and faith- ! "^"^^ ivom time to time highways have been taken 
ful lab(pr. he eonilnned a tenderness of spirit and fi'om the common land. 



an affection for his family and home,'a regard 
for public interests and a respect for the rights, 
comfort and welfare of those about him, which 
made him a cons|iicuous figure in his town, and 
one receiving the entire confidence (pf his friends 
and neighlpors. 



^'5 s% 



V3^ 



It is evident that the site selected for the 
meeting-house was covered with heavy timber, 
and that the jiresent village site was an un- 
broken forest, save where a few bold ]3ioneers 
had made clearings and established homes away 
from the parent villages. "Trodden paths" had 
been marked , out in winding courses by trav- 
ellers in their journeys from one settlement to 
another. 

Evidence leads to the conclusion that the 



BEDFORD. 



meeting-house was built from timber cut and 
hewn on the ground, and that more was stand- 
ing when the question of providing a school- 
house was decided in the affirmative in 1741. 

The vote was to build a house, or buy one of 
Benjamin Ki(hler, and if tlie committee decided 
to build they were to cut the timber on the 
town's land, — " the bigness of the house to be 
twenty feet in length and sixteen feet in width 
and seven feet and a half stood." As the com- 
mittee succeeded in buying Kidder's house for 
£12, the school building was provided without 
cutting the giants of the forest, and they re- 
mained until a later period. 

Land divested of the timber was of but little 
value when this town was incorporated, and 
bounds were very indistinct for a good many 
years after that time. In a conveyance made in 
1758, by Daniel Walker to Benjamin Kidder, is 
the f olllowing : '■ Bounded partly on range way 
and every otlier way by sundry lots of laud." 
In setting off the " widows tliirds " of the estate 
of Joseph Bacon is tlie following description of 
bounds : •' It turns and runs two polls by the 
onion garden, tlieu running to the road through 
said onion garden." In 17,30 the town ajjpointed 
a committee "to stake out so much of the town's 
land as is convenient for the use of the town 
about the meeting house, and a training place." 
Forty years later it appears that anotlier com- 
mittee ai)pointed to settle the bounds of the 
Common reported the boundary line upon its 
southerly and easterly sides the same as the pre- 
vious committee. The records lead to the conclu- 
sion that the first meeting-house was erected on 
the northwest corner of the Common and near 
the higliway, and that the first school house was 
erected on the northeasterly corner. About the 
time of the erection of this school house the 
town had tlie Common surveyed ; and a plan of 
it, made by Thompson Bacon, Esq., is to be seen 
in the record book. But little attention was 
given to improving the Common, and it was 
travelled over in a promiscuous manner until 
about 1850, when the fence was built by the 
united efforts of the parish and citizens, and 
travel across it by team was discontinued. Trees 
were planted and well-defined walks laid out, 
and it is now a most attractive spot. When the 
town and parish became distinct corporations 
the ownership of the Common became a dis- 
puted question, both parties having enjoyed its 
privileges and contributed towards making nec- 
essary repairs. The plan already referred to 
sliows that Joshua Page owned all of the land 
bounding the Common on the west, in the year 
1806. Sheds for the protection of horses had 



been located about the Cummon at different 
times, but about the year 1825 they had been 
more systematically arranged on the westerly 
side, and the owner of the adjoining land had 
but a limited frontage. Mr. Page, the owner of 
the land, was an enterpribiug man, and desired 
to put his possession upon the market tor build- 
ing lots, for which there was a pressing demand, 
and he succeeded in getting a vote of the town 
to remove the sheds to another location and to 
open a street. His statement to the town, styled 
a " memorial," is of interest in many ways. It 
serves to mark an era of great progress in the 
town; shows the condition of the surface of the 
land in that vicinity when in its natural state ; 
indicates the aggressiveness of tlie man, and 
shows what prompted Mrs. Hannah Reed to 
give the land known as the '• Back Common " to 
the town. 




The deed of conveyance from Mrs. Reed 
was made March 3, 18.31, and contains the fol- 
lowing: "The intention of this conveyance is 
to furnish tlie town of Bedford with a place or 
a piece of land where, and on which, such of its 
inhabitants as have occasion, on the Sabbath, to 
use horses and carriages to convey themselves 
or their families to meeting and on public occa- 
sions to tlie centre of the town and may wish 
for a shelter for their liorses and carriages, they 
may under the direction of the town erect or 
place stables for such purposes ; also to furnish 
Said town with a place where as it may have 
occasion, it may erect or place sundry small 
buildings as a school house ^ — hearse house and 
the like, provided that no such building shall 



BEDFOKD. 



63 



be of sucli size ov be so j)lace(l as to iiicouven- 
ipnce the use of said land for stable ground . . . 
nor interfere with the reserved rights of ways, 
and the area not so used shall be forever open 
to the Inhabitants of said town as a promenade 
walk, or Training field — and where it bounds 
on said Common shall at all times be ke])t open 
and no inclosure or ineunibrance shall bi- suffered 
within the area thereof. The Town shall always 
have the right of prescribing and controlling 
the location of the stables and other building 
lots." 

This gift was but one of many acts of gener- 
osity recorded to the honor of Mrs. Hannah 
Heed. The town purchased the Flint land in 
1891 for a school house and play ground, and 
the full benefit of the Common has since been 
realized by the town. 

Besides the buildings already mentioned, there 
were upon the town's land the " Pound " and 
the " Bell House." The former was deemed in- 
dispensable in a well-regulated community, and 
a corner was assigned for it in January, 1732-3. 
Its location was changed in a short time, and 
the abandoned "Pound" at length became the 
foundation of John Bacon's shoe shop. A new 
'•I'ound" was built in a corner of the Back 
Coinnion, and this remained until the spring of 
1S'.)1. when its walls were put into the founda- 
tion (if a new School House. The location 
of the Bell House is fixed by the vote taken 
(_)ct. 9, 1753 : " Voted, To hang the bell about 
two rods and one half northward of the School 
house and as near to Mr. Benjamin Kidder's 
wall as can be with convenience. Voted also to 
build a house not less than twelve feet nor more 
than fourteen feet srpi^'e and that the house be 
so high as to hang the mouth of the bell sixteen 
feet high." (See Frontispiece.) 

A few rods west of the village there is a tri- 
angular piece of ground which remained unim- 
Ijroved for many years. When the Village Im- 
provement Society was organized this ground 
was graded and ornamented, and is now a place 
of interest. There stands upon it one of the 
most symmetrical oak trees to be fomid in this 
locality. The indications are that it is as old as 
the town. Captain Jonathan Wilson marshaled 
the "Minute Men'' of the town in this vicinity 
on the morning of April 19, 1775, before going 
to Concord, where he lost his life ; and the peo- 
ple by general consent have named this im- 
proved angle of ground Wilson Park. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

A Glimpse nf the Ancient Mtctiufi-House anil the ('nn(/re(/ation — 
Foundation .)fembers of the f'liurcit — Hoff of J'astnrs rinfi 
Deacons. 

[After the chapters of ecclesiastical history had passed 
tliroiiirh the press, it became possible to obtain a mem- 
ory sketch of the first meeting-house ami photographic 
vews of the later houses of worship; hence this chapter 
descriptive of the buildings, with other details, is ap- 
pended.] 

The rude structure represented in the frontis- 
piece was a meeting-house in the broadest sense 
of the term; for in it were held all of the public 
gatherings, both of a secular and religious nature, 
for many years. 

It is evident that when it was first occupied 
it "contained only rude benches, and possibly 
these had not been provided when Jonathan 
Bacon assembled the first town meeting. 

Clad in the coarse garments from their own 
looms, with sheepskin breeches and leathern 
aprons, inherited from their fathers, these brave 
men assembled in the inclement month of Janu- 
ary, 1730, and made plans to "lot out the pew 
ground." William Hartwell, Stephen Davis, 
and Dea. Israel Putnam were made a committee 
to perform this service, and also to assign the 
lots to those who were ready to build pews. 
This proved the most difficult task assigned to 
any committee during the organization of the 
town and church. The description of pew lots 
was unaccompanied by a plan, and as they were 
not uniform in size, and erected by individuals 
at different times, it may be supposed that dijH- 
culties often arose in regard to titles. The rec- 
ords show that erring human nature led some 
to infringe on their neighbors' rights. 

It at length became apparent to the people 
that some form of record must be made, and in 
the autumn of 1734 the pews thus far built were 
described and recorded as follows : — 

Bedford Oct. ye is 17:;4. 

A record of the Pewes in the meting house in Bedford 
by order of the Commitey Wil. Hartwel, Step. Daves, 
Dea. Israel Putnam with the advice of the Selectmen. 
A record of the pues as the (.'ommete loted them out. 

First. Dea. Nathaniel Merianis pue is at the East end 
near to the pulpit in the meting house at the north end. 

2d. The second peiie is Mr. William Hartwels is at 
the East end of Dea. Nathaniel Meriams pue in the north 
side of the meting house. 

3d. .John Fassets pue is at the west end north of the 
door agenst the window in the meeting hous. 

4th. Thomas WooUeys pue is in the front on the west 
side of the grat door under the 2d window from the grat 
door in the meeting hous. 

")th. Nathaniel Paige's pue is on the front on the east 
end of the grat door in the meting hous. 



54 



r.EDFORI). 



(ith. James Lanes pne is the 2(1 i.ue from the grat 
door in the front joyning to Natlianiel paiges pue. 

7th. Joseph Bacon pue is at tlie no east corner of the 
meeting hons joyning to Wiliam Ilartwels \>ne. 

Sth. Josiah Bacons pue is at the east end of the 
meeting house joyning to Josepli Bacons pue. 

i)tli. Daniel Daveses pue is at the East end of the 
meting hous joyning to Josiah Bacon pue north of the 
east door. 

10th. Stephen Daveses pue is at the east end of the 
meeting hous, .South of the east door goying to the 
womens stayers. 

11th. Lt. Job Lanes pue is on the north side of the 
meeting house goying to the rainistral pue. 

12tli Benjamin Colburn pue is at the west end of 
the meeting hous on the South of the west door goying 
to the mens stayer. 

l:!tli. Capt. John Lanes pue is on the south side of 
the meeting lioiise west from the south door goying to 
Thomas Wooolley's pue. 

The records show that other allotments were 
made at suhsei^iient meeting's. The reader will 
observe that a \iv\v tiiid a seat were entirelj- un- 
like. 

Ill a meeting of Xoveinber, 17o4, Article 4th 
" was to see thi!' minds of tlie Town whether 
the_y will grant Joseph Dean a pue in the two 
hind seats in the meeting house either side of 
the grate aley. it was put to voat and past on 
the negative." 

It is ajiparent that only the more affluent citi- 
zens took " pue ground " and built pews in the 
opening years of the town's history; and that 
others occupied the seats, and from time to 
time, as circumstances warranted, received their 
lot and built after their own plan. The differ- 
ence in stj'le of pews w^as chiefly in the height 
of the parl'ition walls and provisions to keep 
out the wand. 

Ill 1741 six men asked to change rear seats to 
pews with raised platforms, and offered for this 
privilege to build a school house for the town, 
l)ut the offer was not accepted by the voters. 

On another occasion a voter was allowed to 
change the partition walls of his pew on condi- 
tion that he should not jjlace thenn so as to shut 
off the view of the minister from his neighbor's 
pew. 

Besides the pews, there was the pul])it, far tip 
above the floor, and reached by a winding stair- 
way on the west side, next to the minister's 
pew. The desk projected into the audience 
room, after the style of a shelf, and beneath it 
were the deacons' seats. The minister was ele- 
vated aljout ten feet above the congregation, and 
the deacons' seats were slightly elevated. These 
men of distinction sat facing the jieo|)le, and 
apart from their families. This custom origin- 



ated from their duties of "Deaconing" off the 
hymns, and lasted long after that service was 
abandoned. 

The rustic condition of the meeting-house re- 
mained until after the Eevolutionary "War, with 
the exception of a few needed repairs. In 1707, 
"Voted to shingle the fore side of the meeting 
house and do it with eighteen inch shingles 
and lay them but Ave inches and a half to the 
weather and tliat it be well done and done by 
the last of Sept. next and that they also mend 
the back side." 

At the close of the w^ar general repairs were 
made, and alterations in keepiing with the times. 

A vivid description of this meeting-house, as 
it appeared at the opening of the present cen- 
tury, was given by Eev. Dr. William A. Stearns, 
late president of Amherst College, in an address 
delivered at Bedford in 1868, from which the 
following is taken : — 

The first meeting-house stood on the north side of 
the Common, very near the road, the M'est end facing 
towards the village. It was painted, or ratlier was cov- 
ered, or rather half covered, — for the i)aint was nearly 
worn off, — with a thin coat of dark, dirty yellow. It 
had no bell, steeple, tower, or cupola. The underpin- 
ning was constructed mostly of small stones, some of 
which the boys would easily remove when they were 
playing "hide and seek," and crawl under it. There 
were three outer doors, one opening south, one towards 
the'east, and one towards the west. .\t each door was a 
liorse-l)lock, designed for the special accommodation of 
ladies, who often rode to church on a i^illion behind 
their husbands or fathers. 

In the interior of the house, the pulpit stood on tlie 
north side, next the road. In the front was a gallery of 
peW'S ; on the left hand, a gallery of long seats, Hhieh 
the singers occupied: on the right, a gallery, filled mostly 
by single men, who had no other seat ; up back, high in 
the corners, or cock loft, as they called it, were the negro 
pews, rarely occupied by more than one or two of that 
class of worshijjpers. Up over the front gallery, in the 
ceiling, was a scuttle, opening, if it ever was opened, 
into the roof. It had a mysterious look to children, and 
I used to hear it said sometimes in the village that it 
was the place where the tithing-man put naughty boys. 
I believe the town powder was kept uji there for some 
years. The pews below were square, high, and with ban- 
nisters under the railing, which tlie children, when stand- 
ing, could look through, and would amuse themselves 
with turning and squeaking when they could do it with 
impunity. The seats of the jiews, rarely cushioned, were 
Iiung on hinges, so that they could be turned up for coni- 
foi't ill standing during the long prayer, "which often 
reached half an hour in length." Oh, I remember, as 
though it were yesterday, how those old seats used to 
come clattering down when the prayer was over, as if 
tliey were saying, according to the different spirit of the 
worshippers, "Amen, amen; glad you are done, glad you 
are done; .amen!" The house never had a fire in it, and 
in the winter, oh, how cold! I see the minister, with the 



ISEDFORD. 



55 



thennonieter down to zero, with coal, cloak, ami gloves 
on, aiul handkerchief roimd his neck, till thawed out by 
the warmth of liis subject, he threw some of tliem off. 
I hear the men, in such weather, knocking their feet 
together, here and there over the house, during the lat- 
ter half of the sermon, as if they were saying, '"Oh, do 
stop; I shall freeze to death if you do not say, Amen, 
soon!" 1 hear the windows rattle, and the howl of the 
storm without, and almost shiver just as I used to, as I 
sat, curled up in solemn endurance, looking sometimes 
wishfully at the foot-stove, whicli it was my privilege to 
carry, but, being a boy, not often to enjoy. 

Foundation members of the church, July 15, 
1730 : Nicholas Howes, Joseph French, William 
Hartwell, John Hartwell, Xathaniel Merriam, 
Daniel Davis, Daniel Taylor, Janies Wheeler, 
Stephen Davis, Kichard Wheeler, Daniel Cheev- 
er, Eleazer Davis, Jonathan Bacon, Obed Ab- 
bott, Nathaniel Page, Jr., John Lane, Jacob 
Kendall, Christojiher Page, Thomas Dinsmore, 
Benjamin Kidder, Josiah Fassett. (Lemuel 
Shattuck, historian of Concord, credits eleven 
of the last twelve to Billerica, and later authori- 
ties add the last name to the list of that town.) 

Pastors of Church of Christ and Town : Rev. 
Nicholas Bowes, Rev. Nathaniel Sherman, Rev. 
Joseph Penniman, Rev. Samuel Stearns. 

Of Church of Christ (Unitarian) and First 
Parish : Rev. Mr. Davis, Rev. Robert Wolcott, 
Rev. Joshua Chandler, Rev. George W. Wood- 
ward, Rev. Jason Whitman, Rev. William Ciish- 
ing. Rev. George W. Webster, Rev. Grindall 
Rej'nolds ; a period of stated supply, including 
the ministrations of Rev. Charles F. Russell, 
Rev. Thomos G. Milsted, and others ; Rev. Geo. 
F. l^iper. Rev. Samuel Andrew Dyberg (ordained 
and installed Dec. 10, 1890). 

Of Church of Christ (Evangelical) and Trin- 
itarian Congregational Society : Rev. Samuel 
Stearns (died in otlice). Rev. Jonathan Leavitt, 
Rev. S. Hopkins Emery, Rev. Oren Sikes (died 
in office), Rev. Henr}- J. Patrick, Rev. William 
J. Batt, Rev. George Lewis, Rev. Edward Chase, 
Rev. Otis D. Crawford, Rev. George E. Lovejoy, 
Rev. Howard A. Hanaford, Rev. Edwin Smith. 



NAMES. ELECTED. 

Amos Hartwell, 1826, Nov. 21, 

Joel Fitch, 18:>H, June IS, 

Phinehas W. Chamberlin,lS4."), Xov. 13, 



NAMES. 

Israel Putnam. 
Nathaniel Merriam, 
Jo)) Lane, 
Benjamin Bacon, 
Stephen Davis, 
James VTright, 
William Merriam, 
Moses Fitch, 
Michael Crosby, 
Zehedec Simonds, 



DE.\CONS. 

EI,«CTED. 

1730, Aug. 4, 
1730, Aug. 4, 
1738, Feb. 0, 
175<), Feb. 19, 
17tiO, Dec. 2tf, 
178r>, Nov. 3, 
17!H), May Ki, 
180.'>, June 10, 
1817, July 1-"). 
182(;. Jan. 17, 

• Resigiunl. 



DIED. 

1760, Nov. 12. 
1738. Dec. 11. 
1762, Aug. it. 
1791, Oct. 1. 
1787, July 22. 
1817, June 9.» 
1S04, Sept. 10.* 
182.J, Oct. 12. 
1836, Feb. 13. 
1826, Sept. 20. 



William A. Stearns, 
Thaddeus H. Davis, 
Isaac P. Bacon, 
George S. Skelton, 
Henry A. Gleason, 
Moses E. Eowe, 
George P. Davis, 

NAMES. 

Charles Spalding, 
William Page, 
Eliab Lee, 
George W. Cutler, 
Edward T. Tuten, 



1870, June 13, 

1871, Aug. 4, 

1877, Sept. 27, 

1878, June 24, 
1882, Oct. 6. 
1886, March 29. 
1886, March 29. 

Unitarian Church. 

ELECTED. 

1833, June 4, 
1833, June 4.} 
1836, Sept. 24, 
1870, July .5, 
1870, July 5, 



DIED. 

1870, July 25. 
1845, Aug. 6. 
1878, Jan. 28. 

1871, March 22. 
1877, Sept. 27. t 
1885, Sept. 18. 
1883, Jime 24. t 



DIED. 

1878, April 17. 

1842.* 

1873, June 30. 

1871.* 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Hecimd and Third Houses of Worship — Sole of Pevs in the Second 
House — liededication — Parsoii(«je. 

Such, parts of the frame of the first house of 
worship as could be utilized in the second were 
placed in the frame of that structure, and the 
building contains reminders of the primeval for- 
est. When the second meeting-house was com- 
pleted the spire reached the height of one hun- 
dred feet from the surface of the ground, and 
was regarded as a superior specimen of the ar- 
chitecture of the day, which opinion is endorsed 
by modern architects. The house still stands 
as a monument of the perseverance, fidelity and 
self-sacrifice of the people of Bedford. 

This house was more distinctly a house of 
worship, as all matters of a secular nature were 
forbidden by a vote of the town. It retains its 
original appearance on the outside, with the ex- 
ception of the south end. There were windows 
for the benefit of the congregation on either 
side of the pulpit and a means for lighting the 
desk ; but these were all removed at the first 
season of repairing after the separation, and the 
high ptdpit with its surroundings was substi- 
tuted by one of more more modern design. A 
later act was to shut off the galleries from the 
room below ; and at the most recent repairing, 
mentioned elsewhere, a touch of modern art was 
given to the interior of the house. A plan is 
now (April, 1891) soon to be carried out, where- 
by a partial return to the original inside plan 
will be made, and much waste room will be util- 
ized for social purposes. 

The following is the list of purchasers of the 
pews when the house was completed, with prices 
paid. It will be seen that several individuals 

• Resigned. t Term expired. J Bied in Somerville, 



56 



BEDFORD. 



bought more than one, it being their way of aid- 
ing the enterprise. 



NAME OF PURCHASER. 

Levi Willson . 
Thompson Bacon, Esq. 
Alford Fitch . 
Lieut. Mather Hayward 
Michael Crosby 
Joshua Page . 
Lieut. John Merriani 
Jeremiah Fitch, Boston 
Capt. John Reed 
Stephen Lane . 
David Fitch . 
Benjamin Bacon, Jr. 
Job Lane 
Zebedee Simonds 
Joel Fitch 
Jesse Robinson 
Michael Crosby 
Daize Skelton 
Dr. Amariah Preston 
Timothy Jones 
Jonathan Lane 
Loel Sprague . 
Capt. David Reed . 
Jeremiah Fitch, Boston 
Benjamin Simonds, Jr. 
Solomon Lane 
Dea. Moses Fitch . 
David Lane 
John AVebber . 
Capt. David Reed . 
Roger Lane 
Michael Crosby 
Willard Buttrick 
John Jones 
Moses Page 

Jeremiah Fitch, Boston 
Asa Mead 

Eleazer Davis, Jr. . 
Joseph Brown 
Oliver Pollard 
Nathaniel Page,- Jr. 
Lieut. John Merriam 
William Webber 
Josiah Hill 
David Rice 
Moses Fitch, Jr. 
John Reed 
Elijah Stearns, Esq. 
Capt. Elijah Skelton 
Simeon Stearns 
Jonas Putnam 
Samuel Sage . 
James Webber 



SfM TOTAL SOLD FOR. 



S162 00 

144 50 
176 50 

166 00 

167 00 
166 50 

159 00 

160 00 

145 50 

137 50 

122 50 

123 00 
104 00 
103 00 

89 00 

89 50 

66 50 

64 50 

139 00 

136 50 

128 50 

150 50 

149 00 

133 00 

131 00 

132 00 

139 50 
109 50 

117 00 
112 00 
120 00 

118 00 
125 00 
111 00 
115 00 

87 50 
95 50 
99 50 

98 00 

87 60 

88 00 
68 00 
74 50 
56 50 
64 00 

140 00 

138 00 

139 50 

139 50 

140 50 
139 50 

99 00 
99 50 



NAME OF PUR< IIASER. 

Eliab B. Lane . 

Capt. William Goodridge 

Pev:s in Galleries. 



SUM TOTAL SOLD FOR. 



79 50 

SO 50 



NAME OF PURCHASER. 



StTM TOTAL SOLD FOR. 



Lieut. Mather Hayward . . 844 00 
David Fitch . ' . . . 44 50 
Benjamin Simonds, Jr. . . 43 00 
Elijah Bacon . . . . 42 50 
David Reed, Jr. . . . 44 50 
Obed, Pollard . . . .43 00 
Benjamin and Zebedee Simonds, 35 00 
Lieut. Simeon Blodgett . . 44 00 
William Hartwell, Jr. . . 30 50 
Capt. David Reed . . . 31 00 
Sampson Spaulding, Billerica . 31 00 
James Wright, Jr. . . . 32 50 
John Reed, 3d . . . 30 00 

Capt. Elijah Skelton . . 26 50 
Joshua Page .... 33 00 
Michael Crosby . . .29 00 

Dea. Moses Fitch was chosen to give the deeds 
of the pews in behalf of the town, and his daugh- 
ter, Rachel, very skilful with the pen, wrote the 
entire number. 

The people were contented to remain through 
the long services, both of forenoon and after- 
noon, in the meeting-house, with no fire, until 
about 1830, when the question of introducing 
some heating apparatus was agitated ; but it 
met with severe opposition and defeat at first. 

The first innovation was a clumsy machine to 
furnish heat for the pulpit, so as to enable the 
minister to warm his fingers sufficiently to turn 
the leaves of his manuscript. The congregation 
retained their home-made mittens, and shivered 
on until a later date. 

On Nov. 8, 1832, several of the citizens met 
at " Fuller's Tavern," and organized the Trinita- 
rian Congregational Society. They at once pro- 
ceeded to build a house of worship on land given 
by Jeremiah Fitch. This was enlarged by add- 
ing a chapel in later years. In the progress of 
time the house required a thorough renovation, 
which it received in 1886. A needle spire was 
placed upon the body of the house, ten memo- 
rial windows were substituted for the original 
plain glass, an apartment was added for social 
purposes, and the whole was completely fur- 
nished with modern appliances. 

The first service held in the renovated liouse 
was that of the rededication, on Sept. 30, 1886. 
Then the sons and daughters of the town came 
home and made merry together under the roof 
built by the fathers fifty-three years before. 
Order of exercises : — 




BUILT BY THE FATHERS IN 1832. 




REBUILT BY THE CHILDREN IN 1886 

MEETING HOUSE OF TRINITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY 



BEDFORD. 



57 



Organ Vohintary. 

Atithem. 

Address of Welcome and Prayer, by Kev. Edwin 

Smith, Pastor. 

Doxology. 

Hymn. 

Keading ni Scriptures. 

Hymn. 

Historical Address, by Rev. W. J. Batt. 

Pra3-er of Dedication, by Rev. H. J. Patrick. 

Dedication Ode, by Abram E. Brown. 

Tune: Hamburg. 

With joy to-ilay the children meet 
Beneath the roof their fathers built; 
With thankful hearts our song we raise 
To Hira wlio guided all their ways. 

Here of their means they freely gave. 
Of faith and prayer abundance had. 
A goiily man their leader was ; 
With him they fought a noble cause. 

A Christian band those builders were; 
Their deeds of valor oft were told ; 
Then, too, shall we no longer wait 
To lienor them whose work was great. 

Father, our faith again inspire. 
While we again our vows declare; 
Accept this house, with all we bring, 
A gift of love to Thee, our King. 

Benediction, by the Pastor. 

Collation and social reunion from 5 to 7 p. m. 
Evening service at 7 : Singing by Temple Quar- 
tette, of Boston ; short addresses by former pas- 
tors and representatives of the founders of the 
church. 

Parsonage. — In the days when the settle- 
ment of a minister meant a lifetime of service, 
'• a settlement fee " was given in addition to the 
regular salary. This was to enable the pastor 
to provide his own dwelling ; and not infre- 
quently the preacher conducted the affairs of 
his own farm. This was the case with the four 
ministers settled by this town. 

Brief pastorates at length rendered this cus- 
tom impracticable for clergymen in general; and 
the difficulty of securing suitable tenements, at 
times, prompted several gentlemen, members of 
the Trinitarian Congregational Society, to pur- 
chase the estate on the corner of ]\Liin and South 
Streets for the use of the minister of the society. 
This property was held by the company for a 
while, but in the year 1872, after the death of 
Dea. Amos Hartwell, through the proposition 
of his widow it was given to the Trinitarian 
Congregational Society. The donors were — 



Mrs. Louisa Hartwell . 
Benjamin F. Hartwell 
Phinehas W. Chamberlin 
Samuel Davis .... 
Thaddeus H. Davis . 
Mrs. Mary A. I'utnam . 
Jonathan A. Lane 
Josiah A. Stearns 
Marcus A.Latham, Moses E. Rowe, 
Charles L. Wait, in equal shares, 



S400 
400 
400 
400 
250 
50 



50 



CHAPTER XXV. 



LUt of Professional Men — College Graduates - 
nates. 



Hii/h .School r.rad- 



The clergymen and physicians have consti- 
tuted the larger part of the resident professional 
men; and during the first century and a quarter 
of the town's corporate history it furnished more 
clergymen than it called to service here. 

The legal profession was not represented here 
until a comparatively recent date. Those who 
held commissions as justices of the peace per- 
formed all ordinary legal duties, and the title of 
" Squire " was sufficient to command the respect 
and confidence of the people. Two lawyers have 
recently located in town. They are both grand- 
sons of Bedford, their mothers being natives. 

Elihu G. Loomis, son of Rev. Elihu Loomis 
and R. Augusta Lane, fitted for college at Law- 
rence Academy, Groton, and Phillips Academy, 
Andover ; graduated from Amherst College in 
1874; studied law with George W. Morse, of 
Boston, and at law school of Boston University ; 
admitted to Suffolk County bar in 1878. (See 
Gen. Sec.) 

George R. Blinn, son of John F. Bliuu and Su- 
san L. Dutton, was born in Charlestown, July 11, 
1859 ; graduated from Harvard College in 1885 ; 
admitted to Suffolk County bar in February, 
1887. He married, June 3, 1886, Clara Augusta 
Pollard, of South Newmarket, N.H. 

Physicians. — Dr. John Fassett was the first 
resident physician. Shattuck says he was from 
Harvard ; if so, he must have been a temporary 
resident of that town, as he was born in Bil- 
lerica (probably Bedford side) in 1670 (see fam- 
ily sketch), and married, in 1697, Mary Hill, of 
Billerica. He was helpful in organizing the 
town, and was the first treasurer. He died 
Jan. 30, 1736, in the sixty-seventh year of his 
age. 

Dr. Joseph Ballard was the second physician. 
He was from Lancaster, in 1767. He mai-ried 
Sarah Simonds, and had Sarah, Joseph, and 
Benjamin (the namesake of the father became 



58 



rsEDFoKl). 



a physician). He was a faithful servant of the 
town, and was a delegate to the Provincial Con- 
gress, at Concord, in 1774. He died Jan. 29, 
1777. His widow removed to Buckland, Frank- 
lin County, and married a physician. When 
Dr. Ballard located in town he was legally 
warned out, but persisted in remaining, and 
became a useful citizen. (See page 33.) 

Dr. Amariah Preston was born Feb. 5, 1758. 
In 1777 he entered the Continental army, and 
served three years. In 1790 he settled in Bed- 
ford, and married Hannah Eeed. He was the 
honored physician of the town for forty-five 
years, and enjoyed the confidence of the people, 
whom he faithfully served. He was a justice 
of the peace, and wrote the trio of wills by 
which the " Page and Hartwell Fund " *as es- 
tablished in the town. He died in Lexington, 
Oct. 29, 1853, aged ninety-five years, eight 
months. Dr. Preston was an ardent patriot 
from youth; having given three years of life 
in the cause of liberty, he shrank from no ser- 
vice in town, state, or nation that became a pat- 
riot's duty. In the ninety-fifth year of his age 
the old love of freedom was rekindled within 
him through the visit to the United States of 
Louis Kossuth, former governor of Hungary, 
who tied from his country to escape the cruelty 
of Austria. While he was a guest at Lexing- 
ton, May 7, 1852, the venerable man addressed 
him as follows : "Although nothing impedes the 
rapid progress of time, or delays the increase of 
age, but all pass rapidly to be numbered with 
the years beyond the flood, yet liberty, like a 
genial star, remains behind to bless the world ; 
and when sought by the greatest of patriots, 
even by a Washington, although it came envel- 
oped in garments of blood, was received with 
joy and gratitude, and is now enjoyed by the 
millions of inhabitants of the United States of 
America. It is my heart's desire that Heaven's 
blessing may rest on you, and shield your cause, 
till not Hungary only shall be liberated and set 
free hoia the tyranny and oppression of des- 
pots, but that liberty — true, unsophisticated lib- 
erty — with increasing splendor, shall enlighten 
the world." 

Dr. Stephen Massy and Dr. Kendall were 
here, but little is known of them. They were 
followed by — 

Dr. Bela Gardner, who was born in Littleton, 
was one of thirteen children of Abel, of Hing- 
ham, who was a blacksmith and a soldier of the 
Revolution. His grandfather was Jacob, who 
had ten children. Eichard, of the ''Mayflower," 
is supposed to have been the head of the family 
in this country. Dr. Bela was born July 28, 



1796 ; married, April 24, 1823, Hannah, daugh- 
ter of David Fitch and Hannah Proctor. She 
died Jan. 20, 1844 (see epitaph). He died 
June 27, 1844, and was buried in South Burial 
Ground, Boston. Dr. Gardner was self-educated, 
taught school when young, and studied medicine 
with Dr. Paul Kittridge, of Lowell. He came 
to Bedford about 1820, and began the practice 
of his profession, which he followed till death. 
He was a respected member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity. Of the eight children of Dr. Bela 
Gardner and Hannah Fitch, four died young; 
Mary died in 1889 ; William lives in Iowa, 
Martha in Illinois, and Samuel A. is in Cali- 
fornia. He was left an orphan when quite 
young, and spent some years with his aunt, 
Mrs. Mary Fitch Hartwell, of this town. A 
more than ordinary desire for an education led 
him to bend his energies in that direction, and 
through indomitable perseverance he has accom- 
plished much in the realm of letters. He is a 
prominent clergyman of the Universalist denom- 
ination, was ordained at Mendota, 111., Dec. 2, 
1868, and is now settled over a societ}^ in the 
State of California. He has travelled in the 
old world, and published several valuable work,*^. 
Dr. Abel B. Adams was son of Seth Adams 
and Betsey Bryant, born Aug. 23, 1811, in Way- 
land, Mass. He received his early education in 
that town. He was a graduate of Harvard Med- 
ical School, and commenced practice of the medi- 
cal profession in Bedford in 1837. He married, 
April 25, 1841, Susan Merriam, daughter of John 
Merriam, Esq. Their children were Edward B , 
born July 16, 1843, died Jan. 18, 1866 ; Mary 
¥., born April 22, 1850, died March 7, 1876; 
Merriam, born Feb. 10, 1856, died Sept. 5, 1856; 
S. Augusta, born July 16, 1858, married George 
H. Reed, of Lexington ; Alfred, born March 20, 
1863, died Aug. 19, 1876. Dr. Adams was a suc- 
cessful physician, and an honored citizen of this 
town and of Lexington, to which town he removed 
in 1865. He died Aug. 13, 1884. 

Henry Shaw, M. D., was born in Raynhain, 
Mass., Sept. 12, 1829. He was a son of Linus 
H. and Louisa A. Shaw. His early education 
was acquired in the common schools, he com- 
pleted a medical course at Harvard University 
in 1856, and was surgeon in the United States 
navy from 1862 to 1868. He began the practice 
of medicine at Bedford in 1868, where he con- 
tinued until 1882. He left this for a position 
on the State Board of Charities, and since 1875 
has been connected with the charities of the 
city of Boston. During his residence in this 
town the Bedford Free Public Library Corpo- 
ration was organized (1876). The formation 



BEDFOKD. 



59 



of this pxcellcnt institnti( n wns due to his 
persevi'i'ance luuic tliaii tn tlic clfcji-ts of any 
other citizen ; and the sui)cri(ir fdlleetion of 
books is hxi-gel_y due to his literary taste and 
good judgment. His thoroiigli knowledge of 
parliamentary law led the people to select him 
to serve as moderator of their deliberative as- 
semblies. He was a prominent worker in the 
Unitarian society of the town. He married, in 
1856, Jane M., daughter of Hiram and Betsey 
Taft, of Upton. Children : Charles J., born at 
Sudbury, 1857, married Lizzie Gehring, has two 
children; Xellj' L., born at Leominster, ]859, 
married William A. Mason, has tlirec children; 
Jennie, born at Leominster, 1860 ; Henry E., 
born at Upton, 18()2; Alice M., born at Framing- 
ham, 1866. 

Stephen Andrew Wood, M. D., was born in 
Lowell, Dec. 22, 1851, and was a son of Stephen, 
who was born in Dracut, March 3, 1818, and 
Louisa Ann, daughter of Aaron Andrew, M. D., 
of Boston, born Oct. 17, 1821. Stephen Andrew 
represents the fifth generation of this Wood 
family in this country. The line is : Robert, 
Solomon, Stephen, Stephen, Stephen A. His 
early education was somewhat broken, owing to 
the changes of residence of j)arents. It was ac- 
quired in Lowell, Westford, Dunstable, Groton, 
and North Chelmsford, and in Lowell again at 
the opening of the War of the Rebellion, and 
later in Nashua, N.H., where he graduated from 
Crosby Academy in 1869; and this was supple- 
mented by a course at McCoy's Commercial Col- 
lege in Lowell. He began the studj' of medi- 
cine in 1872 with Herman J. Smith, INI.D., city 
phj'sician of Lowell at that time, and continued 
the course with Norman Smith, M.D., of Nashua, 
N.H. He entered the New York L^niversity in 
1875, taking a two years' course. Being obliged 
to depend upon his own resources for the pur- 
suit of his cliosen profession, he accepted the 
position of city messenger of Nashua and mes- 
senger of county court. New Hampshire, in 1878, 
and remained there until December, 1883, at the 
same time continuing the study of medicine 
under the direction of George W. Courier, M.D., 
of Nashua. He was a justice of the peace dur- 
ing this stay in New Hampshire. He graduated 
from tlie Medical University of Vermont, in class 
of .June, l8cS4 (of which he was an honorary 
member) ; in July was admitted a member of the 
New Hampshire Medical Society, and in Sep- 
tember following to the membersliip of Massa- 
chusetts Medical Society. He began the prac- 
tice of medicine at Bedford, Nov. 10, 1884. He 
became a member of Granite' Lodge, I.O.O.F., 
and Nasliowon Encampment, in 1876; of Nashua 



Lodge of K. of P. in 1880, and of Rising Sun 
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in 1882. 
He was a charter niendicr of Bedford Com- 
mandery, U.O.G.C, in 1889. He united with 
the Baptist Church of Burlington, Vt., in June, 
1884, and bj- letter with the Bedford Trinita- 
rian Church in 1885. Stephen A. Wood mar- 
ried, July 3, 1872. Adrianna, daughter of Charles 
G. and Hannah P. Fletcher, of Groton. Child : 
Fannie A. L., born JNIay 21, 1874, at Nashua. 
N.H. 

For Dr. William R. Hayden, see "Bedford 
S])rings " and Biographical Sketch. 

For Dr. Thomas B. Hosmer, see family sketch. 

College Graduates. — David Lane, son of 
James Lane (see Epitaph and Gen. Sec.) ; Job 
Lane, 3d, son of Job Lane, Jr., Yale, 1764; Oliver 
Wellington Lane, son of Capt. James Lane (see 
Gen. Sec.) ; James Converse, son of Josiah Con- 
verse, 1779; Samuel Horatio Stearns, son of 
Rev. Samuel Stearns, 1823, Harvard (see Gen. 
Sec.) ; William Augustus Stearns, son of Rev. 
Samuel Stearns, 1827, Harvard (see Gen. Sec.) ; 
Jonathan French Stearns, son of Rev. Samuel 
Stearns, 1830, Harvard (see Gen. Sec.) ; Edward 
Josiah Stearns, son of Elijah Stearns, Esq., 1833, 
Harvard (see Gen. Sec.) ; Elijah W. Steaans, son 
of Elijah Stearns, Esq., 1838, Harvard (see Gen. 
Sec.) ; Ebenezer Sperry Stearns, son of Rev. 
Samuel Stearns, 1841, Harvard (see Gen. Sec.) ; 
Alfred P. Johnson, 1861, Harvard; Ernest H. 
Hosmer, 1886, Harvard ; Francis Warren Bacon, 
1890, Harvard ; Annie M. Smith, 18!»0, Welles- 
ley; Bessie S. Sampson, 1X90, Mount Holyoke ; 
Edwin R. Smith, 1887, Williams. 

List of those who have comjdeted the course 
of study of the High School, and been awarded 
diplomas. 

Class of 1886 : Eugene D. Clark, Winfred P. 
Fitch. 

Class of 1887 : Fannie M. Piper, Lizzie F. Web- 
ber, Alice B. Johnson, Lottie M. Corey, Anna W. 
McGovern, Eugene H. Laws. 

Class of 1888 : Alice M. Fitch, Melvina Law- 
rence. 

Class of 1889: Edith S. Hart well, Mary J. 
Haynes, Mabel E. Mills, Fannie L. Wood. 

In 1890 the course of study was extended to 
three years, hence no graduates. 

As we complete this section but a few weeks 
before the close of the school year, the graduating 
class of 1891 is given : Frederick A. Laws, M. 
Alice Piper, Jennie N. Murry, M. Lenore Flint. 



"^Mm^' 



60 



BEDFORD. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



litijirestntatircs itiul S/aU- OJficem — Trctt.-^uj'fr^s At-' 
l*nii of' Sitltltfra. 



'lUiil of 1777 — 



Reih-'okd did not set'k for notoriety in the 
legislative halls, but did not fail of being ably 
represented in seasons of great moment. John 
Reed, Esq., who had served the town in 1776, 
was again elected in 1783. Hostilities had ceased 
in the field, the treaty of peace had been signed 
in Paris, and proclaimed to the people on the 
eighth anniversary of the battle of Concord ; 
Init questions of great importance were to be de- 
cided. The Tory element was to be dealt with. 
The animosity which the refugees had aroused 
in their former brethren and fellow citizens, for 
declining to take i:)art in the struggle for inde- 
pendence, still actuated many. At the May 
meeting the town voted "to give the repre- 
sentative five shillings jier day for his services 
while he attends the court." A letter was re- 
ceived from the town of Boston, dated April 10, 
1783, relating to the return of absentees and 
conspirators, and the town chose a committee to" 
instruct their representative, consisting of Dea^ 
Stephen Davis, John Merriam, William Mer- 
riam, Lieut. Timothy Jones, Capt. Christopher 
Page, and Timothy Page. After an adjourn- 
ment for one week, the committee reported, and 
the representative received his instructions. The 
records fail to give the language of the instruc- 
tions, but the war record of the town as a whole, 
and of each member of the committee, leaves no 
place for doubt that the instructions embodied 
the principles for wliich they had fought. 

The constitution provided that each town then 
incorporated might elect one representative, and 
the House of Representatives had power to im- 
pose a fine upon towns neglecting to choose. 
The day of election was made a festive occasion. 
It was the housekeeper's limit for spring reno- 
vation, and " "lection cake " was an indispensa- 
ble luxury of the day, and continued to be served 
in many homes years after the day had ceased 
to be of political interest. 

The selectmen who signed the first election 
returns under the new form of government, 
were John Merriam, William Page, William 
Merriam, James Wright, Joseph Convers. 
Through amendments to tne Constitution the 
political year was made to begin on the first 
Wednesday of January, the election having 
taken place on the Tuesday after the first Mon- 
day in the November jirevious. 

Tlie list of representatives is as follows: John 
Reed, 1776, 1783; John Moore. 1780; John Web- 



ber, 1787; David Reed, 1805-6, 18(18 ; William 
Wel)ber, 1809, 1811, ISl'l, 1823, 1.S24, 1827, ls2y; 
Thompson Bacon, 1812; John Merriam, 1813-14, 
1816, 1818, 1830-31; Amos Hartwell, 1832-3, 
1836-7: Reuben Bacon, 1834, 1839-40; William 
Page, 1835 ; Rev. Joshua Chandler, 1838 ; John 
P. Reed, 1841, 1843; Oliver R. Abbott, 1842; 
John W. Simonds, 1844, 1802 ; Amos B. Cutler, 
1848; Francis CoggswclL 1851, 1853; Albert 
Bacon, 1854 ; Rev. Henry J. Patrick, 1857. The 
town .system ended with 1857, and the district 
system began, since wlieu the following citizens 
have been elected: Phinehas W. Chamberlin, 
1860; William A. Stearns, 1867; William M. 
Ashby, 1872; Charles A. Corey, 1881; Henry 
Wood, 1885; Edwin H. Blake, 1888. State 
Senate, Reuben Bacon, 1836. 

Treasurer'.s Accounts. — The following is a 
copy of the treasurer's accounts for a part of the 
year 1777 :,— 

Orders to Abel Bowman, Constable. 

£ s.d. 
March the 7th. 1777, To William Page For Sarvices 

as Treasvirer, 12 

" " " •• .John Reed For Ringing the 

Bell, 1 2S 

" " " " .Jeremiah Fitch junr. For En- 
tertainment, 14 9 
" " " " To Mr. .Joseph Hartwell for 

sarvices making Rates, 17 
" " "To Mr. .John Merriam For 

Sarvices making Rates, 12 4 
April 7, 1777, To Eleazer Davis For part paying 

the School master, 1 10 

May 2d, 1777, Stephen Hartwell for hiering Sol- 
diers, 6 8 
" " 1777, .John Reed Esq. For hiering Sol- 
diers, l-j 
'• ■■ " Joseph Hartwell For hiering Sol- 
diers, 1.3 15 
" " " Oliver Reed For hiering Soldiers, 15 
" " '• Josiah Davis For hiering Soldiers, 15 
" '• " Dea. S tephen Davis For hiering 

'■"soldiers, 15 

April :id, 1777, Eleazer Davis for hiering Soldiers, 7 10 
May 2:3d, 1777, William Merriam For hiering .Sol- 
diers, G 
" " " William Merriam six load Wood 

at lis . ■> (5 

at the school -ids 

and paying school Master :Ws ■ 
May 2:i, 1777. To Joseph Convarse for hiering Sol- 
diers, S 14 
Mar. 7, 1777, To Mr. Job Lane For Wood to Jabez 

Russell, 5 

June 12, 1777, To Mr. Ebenezer Page for hiering 

Soldiers, 7 

Jime 10, 1777, To Mr. Joseph Hartwell for hiering 

Soldiers, 15 15 

July 10, 1777, To Mr. Stephen Meeds for Hiering 

Soldiers, 5 



HEDFOKIX 



61 



£ s. (I. 
Sept. 8, 1777, To Mr. William Mi'i-iani paying 

woman School anil boardini;, -i 

Oidors to Timothy Johnson Jur. Constable. 
Slarcii yp 7th, 1777, To Mr. .lob Lane For wood to 

.Jabez Russell, •"> I) 

" " ■■ '■ To .John Webber For making 
Rates anil for sarveses as 
clerk and expenses at his 
house, 2 7 1 

" " " " To Christopher Page .Inr. For 

Sarveses making Rates, l) (j S 

" " " " To Mr. Oliver Pollard for 
mending the school house 
windows & 4 Siinarse of 
Glass, HO 

April :!0, 1777, For personal Sarvise at Cambridge, 17 4 
" 7, ■■ To Setli Salt marsh For paying 

School master, 1 10 

" 1."), " To Seth Salt marsh For JJottoming 

Ye School chair, 13 

May 2, 1777, To Capt. Edward Stearns For hier- 

ing Soldiers, S .5 

.\[ril II, " To Timothy Lane For hiering Sol- 
diers, 16 3 4 
.Iidy 2(!, 1777, To David pag For hiering Soldiers, 7 
.July 12th, 1777, To Saml. Lane jur. For hiering 

Soldiers, ,8 '> 

Feb. l:!, 1778, To .lohn Webber For Hiering Sol- 
diers, .5 
" '■ " To James Lane .lur. For Ilieiing 

Soldiers, .S .') 

To the Heirs of Timothy pag late of 

Bedford,* 7 117 

To Benjamin Lane For hiering Sol- 
diers, 1 7 4 
" Dea. Benjamin Bacon For hier- 
ing Soldiers, I") 17 
■' John Lane For Hiering .Soldiers, 10 10 
■' Benjamin Hutchinson Jr. 7 10 
Moses Abboot For hiering Soldiers, 1.") 
ChristoiiherPage.Iur. '■ " 11 3 
Sept. 1"), 1777, /Cecil. Fitch For hiering Soldiers, 10 
'■ •• " Richard Wheeler " " 10 
" " Joseph Meeds " " 5 
" Nathaniel Meriam " " 5 
" " '■ Jeremiah Blood " " 5 

JohnMerriam ' " 10 

" " " Stephen Hartwell .lur. For hiering 

Soldiers, 8 00 

" " " Samuel Bacon For hiering .Soldiers, 8 13 4 
" " " Samuel Meeds " " " 7 117 

" " " Samuel Davis " " " 3 18 

" " '• John Lane ye 3d for personal Sar- 
vise, 14 11 S 
" " " Jeremiah Fitch Jur. For hiering 

Soldiers, 6 13 4 

" " " James Wright For hiering Soldiers, 7 litO 
" " " William pag. For hiering Soldiers, 7 10 

• Killed at battle of White Plains. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Sonic Early Cnstoma — TJte Pa,-<t(ir's Titlihit/ — 'I'/ic Rnrhfrry J'ei^i. 

It was a custom of our ancestors to share 
their bounties with the minister, and cases are 
not infrequent in this town where the spiritual 
leader was remembered by parishioners in their 
last bequests. These acts were not regarded by 
the donors as altogetlier gratuitous, but as the 
just desert of the one who labored for the good 
of the community and received but a limited 
salary. They were of much help to the minis- 
ters in maintaining tlieir families and educating 
their children. 

Rev. Nicholas Bowes was favored with sev- 
eral beqitests when the people were struggling 
to establish the necessary institutions of the 
town. In 1751 he received, by tlie will of Mrs. 
Susannah Dean, "ten pound Lawful money." 

Rev. Samuel Stearns was often remembered 
in this way, and peculiarly favored in the gifts 
of domestic supplies. His memoranda of pres- 
ents during the first year of housekeeping, pub- 
lished by his son, Rev. William A. Stearns, 
must be of interest to the descendants of the 
families of a century ago. It is evident that 
some people recognized the Jewish obligation to 
give a tenth of their ineoiuf . 

30th May, 1797. Dea. Wright, 1 cheese, 3 lbs. of but- 
ter, 3 fowls, and smidry small articles. Mr. Fassett, 
1 bushel rye and a cheese. Mr. Nathaniel Page, 1 bushel 
rye meal and 1 bushel potatoes. Col. Jones, 4 fowls. 

.June 1. Mr. Solomon Lane, 1 spare rib of pork. 
Mr. William Page, a bushel and a half of rye meal, and 
the same quantity of Indian, and a bag of potatoes. Mr. 
Oliver Reed, 1 bushel Indian corn and a large cheese. 

June 3d. Capt. Webber, 1 cheese. Mr. Eleazer Davis, 

1 bushel of Indian meal. Mr. Moses Fitch, 3 lbs. butter. 

June .">th. Mr. Lane, 3 codfish. Deacon Merriam, 
l.T lbs. of pork. Mr. Nat. Page, 1 bbl. vinegar. Mrs. 
Fitch, 1 doz. eggs. 

Jtme 7th. Mr. Bowers, 1 salmon, weight 11 lbs. 

Jmie 8th. Mr. Samuel Hartwell, 1 pot apple sauce, 
2>2 lbs. butter, and a cheese. 

Jime ilth. Mr. Thomas Page, 1 bbl. cider. 

June 13th. A roasting pig, Mrs. Abbott. 

June 10th. Mrs. Oliver Reed, Jr., 2 lbs. butter. 
Mr. Fitch, 2 lbs. butter. 

.Iiine 23d. Mrs. Lane, 1 lb. butter. Mr. John Web- 
ber, 2 qts. wine, piece loaf sugar, and a jug. 

June 24th. Mr. Fassett, a large leg of veal. 

Jtme 27th. Mr. Benjamin Bacon, 3 lbs. butter. Mr. 
Elijah Stearns, 2 lbs. butter. 

June 30th. Dea. Wright, 1 loin veal. 

July 4th. Mr. David Page, 3 lbs. butter. Mrs. Fas- 
sett, a plum cake. 

July Kith. Mrs. Edward and Mrs. Elijah Stearns, 

2 pigs, weight 40 lbs. Mr. J. Reed, Jr., a leg of bacon. 



62 



BEDFORD. 



July 26th. One cheese from the Widow Lane. 
Month of August : 

Ml-. Thompson Bacon, J^ ^'"''- pigeons. Mr. Hutch- 
inson, l'< busliels corn and a half cheese. Mr. Page, 

1 rake. Dea. Merriam, 4 lbs. salt pork. Dea. Wright, 

5 lbs. pork and some sauce. Mr. Bacon, 1 busliel rye 
and something, 10 lbs. Esq. Jones, 1 quarter lamb and 

some green sauce. Esq. , 1 loin lamb. Mr. Fassett, 

roasting piece of beef. ("apt. Webber, salt pork and 
some green sauce. Widow Merriam, 6 lbs. tallow. Mr. 
Hartwell, piece salt pork and 10 pigeons. 

From September to Thanksgiving: 

Esq. Reed, a quarter of lamb. Mr. N. Page, quarter 
of lamb. Esq. Jones, a leg of lamb, apples, and cab- 
bages. Dea. Davis, 1 doz. pigeons, 1 cheese, and some 
apples. Mr. Benjamin Bacon, 6 lbs. beef. Widow Lane, 

2 lbs. butter. Mrs. Fitch, 1 lb. butter. Mr. O. Reed, 
1 quarter pork. Esq. Jones, )4 bushel onions. Mr. 
Samuel Hartwell, 1 bbl. cider. Dea. Davis, 1 bbl. cider 
and a btishel apples. Mr. Lane, 1 lb. butter. Mrs. 
Fitch, 2 lbs. buttei-. Mr. John Lane, a piece of fresh 
pork. Mr. David Page, 3 lbs. butter. Capt. Page, 

6 lbs. salt pork. Solomon Lane, 1 lb. butter. David 
Page, Jr., 40 lbs. beef. Mr. Page, 3 lbs. beef. Mr. 
Thoma'S Abbott, Jr., 1 quarter lamb. Oliver Reed, 

1 quarter lamb. Tharaas Page, 1 quarter lamb. Esq. 
Reed, 1 quarter lamb. Edward Stearns, 6 lbs. beef. 
Mr. Fitch, 7 or 8 cabbages. Dea. Merriam, 6 lbs. of 
pork and a leg of lamb. Capt. Page, 8 lbs. beef and 
6 lbs. butter. Dea. Wright, 5 lbs. butter and 1 dozen 
cabbages. Mr. John Reed, 3 lbs. butter, 8 lbs. pork, 

2 doz. cabbages. Mr. Oliver Reed, Jr., 1 bbl. cider and 
4 lbs. butter. Capt. Webber, 7 lbs. pork. Mr. Ball, 
1 doz, cabbages. 

Thanksgiving week: 

Mr. Stearns, 1 bushel beets. Mr. Fassett, .5 lbs. but- 
ter, 1 cheese, and 2 doz. candles. Mr. Hartwell, some 
apples. Mr. Ball, 3 ll)s. butter. Mr. Bowers, 1 leg pork, 
15 lbs. Mr. Lane, 7 lbs. pork and 14 candles. Mr. 
Samuel Lane,' Jr., 9 lbs. beef. Mr. Hill, 6% lbs. beef. 
Capt. Webber, 6 lbs. butter. Capt. Page, 1 goose. Mr. 
Moses Fitch, 1 goose. Mr. Moses Abott, 1 goose. Col. 
Jones, 10 lbs. beef. Mr. Bacon, 8 lbs. beef. Mr. Henry 
Abbott, 2 qts. brandy. Dea. Wright, a large sparerib. 

From Thanksgiving to April: 

Dea. Davis, a large hand of pork and a bag of apjiles. 
Mr. Saml. Hartwell, 1 turkey. Mr. S. Lane, 1 bushel 
rye meal. Mr. J. Webber, 32 bushel rye meal. Mr. 
Nathan Fitch, Ib^ lbs. pork. (Japt. Page, 't^i lbs. beef. 
Mr. Hutchinson, 8 lbs. beef. Mr. Fassett, 7)^ lbs. beef. 
Mr. Davis, 14i.i lbs. pork and 3 fowls. Mr. Converse 
and Mr. Cilezen, 2 bitshels rye. Esq. Reed, 20% lbs. 
pork. Mr. Glezen, 12 lbs. pork. Mr. Wright, 10 lbs. 
pork. Mr. Fitch, veal, 15 lbs. Mr. O. Reed, pork. Mr. 
Page, a quarter of . Sirs. Fitch, 1 lb. butter. 

April to June: 

Cajit. Page, 1 leg pork, John Reed, Jr., 5 lbs. pork. 
Mr. S. Hartwell, 1 doz. sausages, a cheese, and 2 lbs. 
butter. Dea. Davis, 1 lb. butter, 7 lbs. pork, doz. eggs. 
Mr. B. Bacon, 1 lb. butter and cheese. Esq. Reed, 
1 cheese. Mr. Wright, 10 lbs. pork. Stephen Lane, leg 
of pork. S. Hartwell, pork, 15 lbs. Moses Abbott, 
pork. Capt. Webber, Initter, 12 veal. Esq. Reed, a <lay's 
work oxen and plough, and half a day's work of himself. 



Moses Abbott, Jr., a quantity of sauce. Oliver Reed, 
1 bushel rye. Wui. Page, 1 quarter of veal, 17 lbs. 
Mr. Wright, a sparerib of pork. Esq. Reed, 10 lbs. of 
pork and a calf's harslet. Esq. Reed, 1 day's work of 
oxen. Mr. Jolm Reed, Jr., 1 day's work with himself 
and cart. 

The pastor received annually from the town twenty 
cords of wood, the preparation of which for the tire fur- 
nislred one of the merriest occasions of the year. 

Barberry Pe.st. — It was a general belief in 
the province.s, about the middle of the eight- 
eenth centurj', that the decline in the production 
of certain varieties of English grain was due to 
the barberry pest, and a law was enacted in 1754 
for its extermination. 

Every owner of land was required to clear it 
of the barberry bush ; and the selectmen were 
required to clear the roads and common grounds, 
in order to make the extermination thorough and 
effectual. The law imposed quite a burden upon 
the farmers and a drain upon the treasury of 
this town, as the bush had become very common 
here. Scientists do not class the barberry with 
native plants, but it was early found in New 
England where the soil is conducive to its rapid 
propagation. Among the Lane papers is a let- 
ter from Mary Belcher to Whipple, in 1G40, in 
which is the following : " If you can get me a 
few barberis & send at rowlah you will do me a 
kindness." 

The bush soon took root again in tliis town, 
and continues to flourish, ])rodueing a crop 
highly prized by many. 



CHAPTER XXVII 1. 

Becorils — 7\vrn Officers — Justices "of tlir I'fnre — Toini Valuation 
of 1771 — Census Items, 

In some towns the annals are incomplete, — 
portions having been lost by lire or other calami- 
ties, — but in Bedford the records are continuous 
from the beginning of the town. 

In the early years there was some laxness on 
the part of certain families in the returns of 
births, marriages and deaths, but this defect is 
corrected in a measure by the record kept by 
Rev. Nicholas Bowes. His record of baptisms 
often enables one to supply a deficiency in that 
of births kept by the clerk of the town. The 
almost universal custom of baptizing an infant 
on the .Sabbath following the birtli makes it 
possible to till some blanks with comparative 
certainty. Where both church and town rec- 
ords fail, a gravestone often furnishes the record 
of a person whose life was spent in the town. 
The first record of the church was kept in a 



BEDFORD. 



63 



book the pages of which are six inches by eight, 
and bound in velhim or parchment, which has { 
become verj^ loose, and several of the leaves con- 
taining records are missing, viz.: In the record 
of baptisms all between Sept. 29, 1745, and Jan. 
20, 1751, also between Sept. 27, and Nov. 1, 1741, 
are lost. 

Rev. Nathaniel Sherman, the second minister, 
continued the record in an alphabetical manner. 

The characteristics of Rev. Joseph I'enniman 
are seen very distinctlj^ in his records, and they 
are not as reliable ; but his successor, Rev. Sam- 
uel Stearns, kept a perfectly reliable record in a 
thoroughly systematic manner. The record of 
deaths kept by Rev. Nicholas Bowes shows that 
during the first quarter of a century there were i 
one hundred and seventy-three deaths in all. the i 
average for a year being seven. The largest ' 
number in any one year was twentj-, in the year 
1749. There were fifteen in 1750 and sixteen in 
1754. (By referring to the chapter on epitaphs 
it will be seen that this great mortality was 
among the children ; it covered the years when 
the throat distemper thwarted the skill of phy- 
sicians.) The smallest number in any one year 
was two, in 1732; there were four in 1751. 

The town records are in a good state of pres- 
ervation, but still remain in the form of manu- 
scripts, and are thus liable to be lost, as only 
the original copy is possessed, with the excep- i 
tiou of the first book of births, marriages, and 
deaths. A copy of this has been made by the 
accurate hand of Mr. George Tolman, of Con- 
cord, and presented to the town. 

Brevity of entries is a very general defect in 
early records ; a mere statement of a fact be- 
comes blind indeed after those who participated 
in the event have passed away. Another great 
defect arises from the absence of reports of com- 
mittees. Records were made of cases of impor- 
tance, being referred to a committee, and later 
the committee having reported, it was accepted, 
and ordered on file ; but those files have doubt- 
less been lost sight of in the attics of early clerks 
before a place of safetj^ was provided. This de- 
fect is most noticeable during the years of the 
Revolutionary War. 

It is due to the memory of Samuel Fitch, the 
first town clerk, to record in this connection, that 
his wise forethought in recording the doings of 
the meetings during the organization of the town 
has enabled us to obtain much that is of interest 
in those early days. The entire records will com- 
pare favorabl}- with those of towns that we have 
examined during the preparation of this brief 
history. The student of manuscript records 
learns very early in his research that a great 



benefit is derived from years of continuous ser- 
vice of the same clerk. This town has been 
fortunate in that respect, as will be seen by the 
following statement : — 

Towx Clerks. — Samuel Fitch, 1729-31, 1733- 
37; John Fassett, 1732; Israel Putnam, 1738- 
45 ; John Whitmore, 1746—48 ; Stephen Davis, 
1748-60, 1766-72, 1775; John Reed, 1761-66, 
1773-75; John Webber, 1776-79, 1783-93; Wil- 
liam Merriam, 1780-82, 1794-1804; William 
Webber, 1805-1829; Reuben Bacon, 1830-44; 
Joel Fitch, 1845 (died in service, and the year 
was completed bj' Joseph Brown, Jr.) ; Thomas 
Stiles, 1846-63 ; William Albert Stearns, 1864- 
71 (died in service);* Charles A. Corey, 1871 
(still in service). 

Selectmen, beginning with the year 1830 (as 
a full board consists of three, that number will be 
found under each year) : Reuben Bacon, 1830-33 ; 
Amos Hart well, 1830-36, 1843-47; Joel Fitch, 
1830 ; Joseph Brown, 1831 ; Timothy Page, 1832- 
33; Albert Bacon, 1834^35, 1843-44; John P. 
Reed, 1834-37, 1840-42, 1845-48, 1857; Liab 
Lee, 1836-38; Elbridge Bacon, 1837; Oliver R. 
Abbott, 1838-39; David Rice, 1838-39; Jona- 
than Bacon, 1839, 1845-47; Nathaniel C. Cut- 
ler, 1840-41; Michael Crosby, 1840-42; Amos 
B. Cutler, 1842-44, 1850-51; Thomas Stiles, 
1848-56; Isaac P. Bacon, 1848-49, 1874-76, 
1880; Benjamin J. Davis, 1849; Phinehas W. 
Chamberlin, 1850-55; Charles Spaulding, 1852- 
56; William M. Ashby, 1856-65; William A. 
Stearns, 1857-65; Samuel Sage, Jr., 1858; Oliver 
J. Lane, 1859-65, 1868-73, 1877-78, 1881 (still 
in service) ; Henry Bacon, 1874 ; Thomas B. 
Hosmer, 1874; Aaron H. March, 1875-76; Elea- 
zer P. Davis, 1875-76; Charles H. Clark, 1877- 
79; Samuel W. Huckins, 1879; Calvin Rice, 
1880; William R. Hayden, 1880; Willard Ladd, 
1881-82; Nathan B. Smith, 1883-90; Albert P. 
Sampson, 1883; Edwin H. Blake, 1884-90; 
Irving L. Hodgdon, 1891; Dudley Hartford, 
1891. 

* Resolutions adopted by the town after the death of 
William A. Stearns, who died while in the position of 
clerk and treasiu-er : — 

Whereas God in his mysterious providence has sud- 
denly removed by death our friend and townsman, 
William A. Stearns, clerk and treasurer of the town, a 
citizen of imblemished and of upright character, faithful 
ill the discharge of the various offices intrusted to him 
by his constituents, one who deserved and retained the 
confidence of his associates, — 

Therefore we feel it a duty to express our apprecia- 
tion of him as a kind neighbor and Christian friend, and 
of his valuable services in behalf of the town, committed 
to him, and that we deeply sympathize with his bereaved 
and afflicted family in their deep sorrow. 



64 



BEDFOED. 



One of the very early records of the town is 
of a vote to allow the " Law Book " to be passed 
around among the different families. This book 
contains the first printed copy of the act of in- 
corporation of the town of Bedford. The title- 
page is as follows: "The Charter Granted by 
their Maejsties King William and Queen Mary 
to the Inhabitants of the Province of the Massa- 
chusetts Bay in New England. — Boston in New 
England. Printed by B. Green. Printer to the 
Honourable the Lieut. Gouvernour & Council for 
Benjamin Eliot and sold at his shop, near the 
Town Plouse in King's Street. 1726." 

This volume had been lost many years, when, 
in 1886, it was forwarded from Chicago, 111., to 
the writer of this sketch, with the following 
letter : — 

I send to you an old book that was in the Library of 
Reuben Bacon, Esq. . . . How it came there does not 
appear, but may have been left when he (Bacon) surren- 
dered the clerkship of the town and parish. It should 
be in the archives of the town. . . . 

It has travelled thousands of miles, been through the 
"great Chicago fire," and e.'cisted while nearly five gen- 
erations of the inhabitants of Bedford have been born 
and died. 

Mrs. Hosmer, in looking over her choice keepsakes, a 
few days before her death, desired me to forward to you 
this clioice relic, to be delivered to the town of her 
nativity and love, as a gift to its people. 

I now lierewith, in accordance with her request, pre- 
sent this volume. 

Martha Bacox Hosjier, 

By her husband, .Joseph Hosmer. 
Chicago, .Jan. 1, 1886. 

Justices of the Peace. — John Reed, Elijah 
Stearits, Amariah Preston, Thompson Bacon, 
William Webber, John Merriam, Eeuben Bacon, 
Joel Fitch, Phinelias W. Chamberlin, Amos Hart- 
well, Thomas Stiles, Amos B. Cutler, Henry 
Shaw, jNIarcus B. Webber, Merton Simonds, 
Elihu G. Loomis, Albert P. Sampson, Charles 
A. Corey, Edwin H. Blake, Thomas B. Hosmer, 
Abram E. Brown, George E. Blinn. 

The first birth recorded is Abigail Grover, 
daughter of Thomas and Abigail Grover, Nov. 
30, 1739. 

The first marriage was on Jan! 21, 1730 | 1 : 
Joseph Fitcli and Sarah Grimes, by Rev. Nicho- 
las Bowes. 

The first death was that of Sarah, daughter 
of Joseph and Rebecca Bacon, Feb. 16, 1730 | 1. 

Earlier records are found, but they were cop- 
ied from either Concord or Billerica records to 
complete family registers. 

Tre.\surers beginning with the year 1830: 
John Bacon, 1830^5; Isaac P. Bacon, 1846-50, 
1868-69; Phinehas W. Chamberlin, 1851-67; 



William A. Stearns, 1870-71 (died in service); 
Albert Bacon, 1871-75; Charles A. Corey, 1876 
(still in otfice). 

Moderators of town meetings, for fifty 
years, ending with January, 1890 : Amos Hart- 
well, 3; Jonathan Bacon, 6; George Simonds, 32; 
George W. Woodward, 9 ; John Bacon, 1 ; John 
W. Simonds, 30; Oliver W. Lane, 1; P. W. 
Chamberlin, 14; Elijah W. Stearns, 2; W. H. 
Eopes, 1; Charles Spaulding, 6; Eeuben Bacon, 
Esq., 1; Reuben Bacon, Jr., 3; Francis Coggs- 
well, 1; John P. Reed, 1; Samuel Sage, Jr., 
16 ; Isaac L. Watts, 4 ; George W. Webster, 1 ; 
Joseph Hosmer, 1 ; Oliver J. Lane, 41 ; Amos B. 
Cutler, 2; Cryus Page, 2; Marcus B. Webber, 5; 
Edward T. Tuten, 1; Thomas Stiles, 1; Henry 
Shaw, 16; Elihu G. Loomis, 3; Thomas B. Hos- 
mer, 1. 

The following abstract 'of the inventory of 
taxable property and of ratable polls of the year 
1771 is suggestive of the changes of time: — 

Ratable polls 125 

Not ratable 3 

Dwelling houses and shops adjoining . . .73 
Outbuildings, shops and Tan houses ... 1 

Mills. 2 grist and 2 saw mills 4 

Annual worth of the whole real estate, 

deducting only annual repairs . . £684 2s. 6d. 
Servants for life between 14 and 45 years of age . 7 
Stock in trade, in goods, wares and mer- 
chandise paid for or not . . . £68 Os. Od. 
Money at interest more tlian is paid inter- 
est for . . . . . . . £2170 2s. Sd. 

Horses & mares three years olil and upwards . . 76 
Oxen four years old and upwards .... 144 

Cows three years old and upwards .... 415 

Goats & Sheep 1 year old 463 

Swine 1 year old 149 

Acres of pasturage 1632)2 

Number of cows kept on pastm'age with other 

feed 457 

Acres of tillage 370 

Bushels of grain & corn of all sorts, the same 

will produce 6536 

Barrels of Cider, averaged 618 

Acres of English and upland mowing . . 3353^ 

Tons of hay cut on same 177 

Acres of fresh meadow 1162 

Tons of hay cut on same I^o^i 

In 1871, a century later, the assessed value 
of real estate was .S496,079; personal, $91,258. 
Valuation of 1890, real estate, $758,929; per- 
sonal, $119,307. 

Items from the United States census of 1890: 

Inhabitants 1,092 

Between SO and 90 years . . .21 

70 " SO " ... 51 

60 " 70 " ... 83 

" 50 " 60 " ... 100 

40 " 50 " . . 104 



BEDFORD. 



65 



Soldiers' widows 7 

Veterans of Civil War 31 

Farms 95 

Industries 15 

Dwellings 230 

Families 239 



CHAPTER XX rx. 

Indioidiuil Military Service in Indian Wars and the /Urohttion — 
Roster of Officers and Privates — Kft'ort to Erect a .\feinnrial. 

1675, King I'lulip's War: Job Lane. 

168S to 1698, King William's War : Lieut. John 
Wilson, Lieut. John Lane. 

1703 to 1713, (Jueen Anne's War: Capt. John 
Lane, Nathaniel Bacon, Samuel Fiteh, Josiah 
Bacon, Trumpeter, Nathaniel Page, Nathaniel 
Bacon, John Colburn, Josiah Fassett, Benjamin 
Bacon, Jonathan Bacon, Joseph ]?aeon, Job 
Lane. 

1723 and 1724, Indian outbreak: Josiah Davis, 
killed; Eleazer Davis, wounded; Hugh Max- 
well. 

1745 to 1748, King George's War: Lieut. 
John Lane, Hugh ]\Iaxwell, Thompson Maxwell. 
Lieut. Lane \v;is with Sir William Pepperell, 
who sailed from Boston, March 24, 1745, for the 
capture of Louisburg. 

1754 to 1763, last French and Indian War: 
Ebenezer Page, in the expedition to the east- 
ward; Ensign Josiah Fassett, at the relief of 
Fort Williams; Sergeant Page; Nathaniel Mer- 
riam, died at Lake George, Sept. 15, 1758; John 
Abbott, died at Lake George, Nov. 2, 1756. 

Thompson Maxwell was one of Rogers' Rang- 
ers. 

Rev. Nicholas Bowes w-as chaplain ; |Hugh 
Maxwell, credited to Lexington (the home of 
his wife). 

The following is the list of those who received 
abatementsjiof their " town and highway rates," 
in 1763, in recognition of services rendered in 
the' troubles with the French: Hugh Maxwell, 
Jeremiah Fitch, Jr., Jonas Wheeler, John Dan- 
forth, Stephen Mead, Abraham Taylor, Samuel 
Kidder, Widow Brown (for her husband), James 
Wheeler, Adron Wood, Zachariah Fitch, Eben 
Taylor, Benjamin Kidder. 

Benjamin Kidder is supposed to have been 
the same person who was wdth Lovewell, in 
1725, at Pigwacket, '-the most fierce and obsti- 
nate battle of Indian warfare." He was in 
David Melvin's company, as Sergeant, [and one 
of twenty-six who went for the reduction of 
Louisburg, and through the woods to Crown 
Point. 



tf more has been written of those who belonged 
to the Billerica side, it is because there were 
more from that part of the town who had mili- 
tary titles ; hence they secured a more complete 
record. There was no lack of patriotism and 
courage on the Concord side. Five-sixths of 
those whose rates were abated for service iu the 
year 1762 were from that side of the town ; and 
the Davises, who were full of military zeal in 
the early wars, belonged upon that side. Elea- 
zer 3rd was commissioned a lieutenant in the 
opening of the Revolution. 

In the Concord records it is seen that men of 
this location, Bedford, were active in shaking 
off the oppression of Sir Edmund Andros, in 
1689. Lieut. Joseph French was a selectman 
of that year, and when at the age of eighty 
years led in forming this town. His name 
stands at the head of the founders of the 
church, in 1730.* 

Revolution. — The men who turned out iu 
response to the alarm of April 19, 1775, are 
known as the "Lexington Alarm List." 

Certain traditions in regard to the command- 
ing officers of both minute men and militia have 
been accepted as facts and recorded bj^ local his- 
torians, but are not substantiated by official re- 
turns ; hence the documents filed in the archives 
of the State are copied more fully than would 
otherwise be done in this connection. 

We have not a complete record of the mili- 
tary organization of the town at the opening of 
the Revolution, bvit have reason to believe that 
the companies credited with service on April 19, 
1775, were very nearly full, and that the follow- 
ing lists represent the militia roll of that time : 

The account of the time that each man who belonged 
to the Minute Men of the Town of Bedford spent at 
Cambridge in defence of the Country together with the 
nineteenth of April last, and also of their travel reck- 
oned from the middle of the town according to the 
)uinds of the Company. 



1st. Lieut. Moses Abbott. 
2nd " Timothy Jones. 
•Sargt. Christopher Puge. 

" SetU Siinltmash. 

*' Ebennzer Fitch. 

*' Asa Fassett. 
Privates, Joseph Meads, Jr. 
Reuben Bacon. 



Drummer Oliver Bacon. 
Fifer .Jonas Welch. 
Privates, Jabez Russell. 

Jonas Gleason. 

Nathan Bacon. 

Nathaniel Page, Jr. 

Moses Fitch. 

David Bacon, 



* The Commonwealth of Massachusetts managed its 
own affairs in its own way from its start, in 1629 to 1(584. 
Their charter was annulled by Charles II., in l(iS4, and 
Sir Edmund Andros was sent over, who ruled with des- 
potic power. He was seized and thrust into iail, in li)S9. 
In 1693, mider William and Mary, ^Massachusetts had a 
new charter, by which the Legislature was in the control 
of the people, but the Governor was appointed by the 
King. 



66 



BEDFOED. 



Elijah Bacon. 
Timotliy Jolmson. 
Ephraim Smitli. 
Obeiiiah Johnson. 



David Reed. 
Nathan Bowman. 
Asa Dnren. 
Benjamin Winsliip. 



William Merriam. 

This is a true attested account from Eacli one before 
me. Moses Abbott. 

Bedford, March i:'.. 177G. 

Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, 

March 14, 1"T6. 
Moses Abbott made solemn oath that this EoU, by him 
subscribed, is just and true in all its parts. 

Before Moses Gill, Justice Peace. 
Throu. the Colony. 

In Council, March 14, 17TG. 
Read and allowed and ordered that a warrant be drawn 
on Te Treasury for 21?. 4s. "td. in full for this roll. 

To tlie above list of "Minute Men" thirty-six 
miles of travel are credited, and their time of 
service ranges from four to thirteen days. This 
roll was made nji by Moses Abbott, the next in 
command to Captain Jonathan Wilson, who was 
killed in the attack tipon the retreating British 
near Merriam's Corner, April 19, 1776. He 
had bravely led his men through the memorable 
scenes of the earlj' hours of the day, been foremost 
in the chase across the Great Fields to intercejit 
the enemy, and fell dead in the severe battle of 
the afternoon. It is to be regretted that no men- 
tion is made on this roll of his service and sac- 
rifice. This unfortunate omission can be ac- 
counted for in two ways. First, it was some 
months before this roll was filed and allowed ; 
and, second, because Capt. Jonathan Wilson, 
like all the officers of the Minute Men, had not 
been commissioned. The rei^ort of the town 
treasurer for 1775 allows Moses Abbott, for six 
days' training with twenty-five Minute Men, 
eight pounds two sliillings. The above list num- 
bers twenty-five without the fallen captain, prov- 
ing the truth of a tradition, "that undrilled citi- 
zens joined the ranks.'' 

The company of militia belonging to the 
seventh regiment was reported by the com- 
manding officer as follows : — 

The account of Capt. John Moore, commander of the 
Militia Company of Bedford, giving the miles of travel 
and time spent in the Service and Defence of the Colony, 
on and directly after the alarm on the nineteenth day of 
April last. Exhibiting in Distinct Columns against each 
man's name the number of miles he travelled. The allow- 
ance thereof, The number of Days he was in that Service 
and the wages thereof, with the sum total of the whole, 
agreeable to the Kesolve of the Honl. Council published 
in the news-paper, and a vacant column for Deduction 
if any shall be to be made. 



Miles. Bs. 
40 10 
40 8 
40 9 
24 4 
33 3 



Captain John Moore 

1st. Lieut. Jonn Merriam 

2(1. Lieut. Eleazer Davis 

Sargeant Joseph Convers 

'* James Wright 

" JeremiahFitchJr.33 4 

Fifer David Lane 33 11 

Private James Lane Jr. 3d. 33 12 

" Oliver Eeed Jr. 33 7 

Samuel Lane 33 9 

" Israel Butnam Jr 30 10 I 

" Samuel Bacon 26 4 

" Samuel Davis 26 3 

EbenezerPage 33 2 

•' Thaddeus Davis 30 9 

Edward Stearns 40 3 

" Solomon Stearns * 40 18 

" William Page 28 5 

William Maxwell 38 6 

" Samuel Meeds 32 15 

Josiah Upton 38 8 

'' Samuel Merriam 30 10 

" Abel Bowman 37 3 

" David Fitch 26 2 

" Abijah Bacon 3G 13 



MileE.Ds. 
Private Ziba Lane 33 9 

Sampson Hardy 33 9 
Lemuel Blauchard37 10 
Edward Stearns 26 14 
Josiah Davis 
Simeon Parker t 
.Joseph Ross t 
Jabez Carter 
John Lane 
Joseph Hartwell 
Thomas Bacon 
John Fitch 
Samuel Lane Jr. 
John Lane Jr. 
Solomon Lane 
Matthew Pollard 
.Stephen Lane 
Job Lane Jr. t 
Oliver Pollard Jr, 33 
Jeremiah Willard 30 
John Eeed 26 

Ebenezerjohnsont 
Machias Allen 1 
Abraham Merriam 
Timothy Page 20 



30 



33 12 
33 6 

33 7 



10 



Colony of Massachusetts Bay April 3, 1776 Captaiu 
John Moore, above mentioned, made solemn oath to 
the truth of the above roll. 

The fragmentary rolls in the archives of the 
state, and the imperfect records of the time, 
make it impossible to give a complete list of 
the Bedford men who served in the Continental 
army during the Eevolution. The best list that 
we have been able to obtain is the following, 
reported May 15, 1775. It includes the members 
of the companies given above, with the excep- 
tion of the killed and wounded and those who 
have died of disease, together with the follow- 
ing:— 



(1) Jeremiah Blood, 

(2) Solomon Bacon. 

(3) John Burgess, 

(4) Ebenezer Bowman, 
Samuel Fletcher, 
John Hartwell, 
Samuel Hartwell, 
Job Lane, 

Israel Putnam, 
Thomas Page, 
Daniel Jones, 
James Simons, 



(5) Samuel Crosby, 

(6) David Dutton, 

(7) Reuben Durant, 
Matthew Fitch, 
Benjamin Hutchinson, 
Timothy Johnson, 
Timothy Lane, 
Stephen Mead, 
David Page, 

Oliver Reed, 
Benjamin Ross, 
Nathan Smith. 



The committee report that all are then enlisted 
(May 15, 1775), with the exception of seven in- 
dicated by figures, and consequently participated 
in the siege of Boston. 

Hugh Maxwell and Thompson Maxwell were 
in the battle of Bunker Hill (credited to other 
towns). While it is evident that other Bedford 
men were engaged in that bloody struggle, it is 
impossible to give the names. 

1775: In the second campaign of twelve 

* Died May 18, 1775. t Joined the Continental army. 

t Wounded at Concord, April 19, 1775. 



BEDFORD. 



6T 



mooths we find Abraham Meiriain, and in 


1780, June, six months' 


campaign, seven men 


Capt. Benjamin Walker's company of the 


to North River : — 




twenty-seventh regiment : — 


John Johnson, 


Cambridge Moore, 


2d Lieut. Ebenezer Fitcli, Private Jabez Carter, 


Rufus Johnson, 


Jonas Duren, 


Sargeant Asa B'assett. " Asa Duren. 


Nathan Merrill, 


C'lesar Prescott, 


Private Amos Goodell, " Simon Parker, 


Jonas Bacon. 


Malachi Allen, " Benjamin Winship. 


Three months' campaign, to Rhode Island, 


Fourth campaign, July, 1775, to Ticonderoga: 


eight men: — 




Solomon Kemp. 


Joshua Holt, 


Jonathan Wilson, Jr., 




John Webber, 


Andrew Hall, 


Fifth campaign, to Ticonderoga: — 


Ebenezer Hardy, 


Isaac Simonds, 


William Murrj-, John Halley, 


Amos Bemis, 


Israel Mead Blood! 


Ezekiel Kilpatrick. 


1781: — 




Sixth campaign, to Dorchester, July, 1776 (one 


Cambridge Moore, 


Csesar Prescott, 


from Bedford, two hired) : — 


Joseph Ross. 


Samuel Parkhurst, Moses Esterbrooks, 


■' June, six men, to join G( 


?neral Washington, at 


Benjamin Farmer. 


West Point : — 




Seventh campaign, to AVhite Plains, N. Y., 


Nehemiah Wyman, 


Timothy Crosby, 


1776 (in Capt. Samuel Fay's companj-, Lieut.- 


Moses Abbott, 


Joseph Merriam, 


Col. Webb's regiment, three months twenty-two 


Stephen Syms, 


Israel Mead Blood. 


days in service) : — 


1782, August 29, six months to Cambridge : — 


Joseph Merriam, Israel Blood. 


John Johnson, 


Jonas During, 


Nathaniel Wynian, Thomas Cleverly. 


Rufus Johnson, 


Jonas Bacon, 


Moses Abbott, Moses Fitch, wounded, 


Nathan Morrill, 


Cambridge Moore, 


Sargeant Timothy Page, killed. 


Charles Walker. 


1777, May, two months' campaign : Five men to 


Men from Bedford who s 


served for three years 


Rhode Island : — 


or the war. 

Called iu 1777: — 




William Dexter, Cambridge Moore, 






John Abbott, Amos Whitmore, 


Private Joseph Davidson, Private Dangle McClary, . 


Nehemiah Wymau. 


" John Binger, 


' Samuel Penny, 




" Derby Arnalls, 


' TimothyRiehardson, 


August 21, three and one-half months: Eight 


" Jonathan Evens, 


' Timothy Sullivan, 


men to Bennington. 


" Joseph Fassett, 


' William Tufts, 


Jonas Eaton killed, July 6, 1777. He was in 


" Alexander Lucom, 


' Israel Williams, 


Capt. John Russell's company. 


Private Moses Craige (hire 


d from Hopkinton). 


September, thirty days' campaign : Eight men 


Called in 1779: — 




" to take and guard the troops." 

1778, February, three months' campaign : Five 


William Jones, 


William Freeman. 


men with Captain Farmer. 


Called in 1780: — 




April 20, nine months's campaign: Eight men 


Joseph Davidson, 


James Ingles, 


with Captain Moore at Cambridge: — 


Henry Kneeland, 


John Williams. 


Waldron Stone, Ralph Emery, 


Called in 1782;: — 




Gideon Sanderson, William Marry, 


1 




John Stevens. 


William Grant, 

Caesar Joi 


Zephaniah Williams. 

les. 


John Reed to Rhode Island. 






1779: Two men to Rhode Island ; second cam- 


First regiment, Continen 


tal army : — 


paign, two men to Rhode Island. 


Daniel Brodbury, ser 


?ed 48 months. 


Three men to North River: — 


John Pickett, 


' 48 




James Uran, ' 


' 48 " 


Abraham Merriam, William .Jones, 


Jonathan Dutton, 


' 27 


WilUam Freeman. 


Heith Pleasant, ' 


' 12 " 


Two men to Boston. 


Summar_y of the killed. 


wounded, and those 


One and one-third mouths : Six men to Clav- 


who died from disease, as 


far as known: — 


erick. 


Jonathan Wilson, capta 


in of Minute Men. 



68 



BEDFORD. 



killed April 19, 1775, at Coiicerd. "A brave 
and meritorious officer" (Shattuek). 

Job Lane, Jr., wounded at Concord. April IS), 
1775 (in service but one day). 

Solomon Stearns, with his father, Edward 
Stearns, in Concord fight; joined the army at 
Cambridge on the following day, and there con- 
tracted a disease, wliich terminated his young 
life, ]\Iay IS, 1775, in the nineteenth year of his 
age. He was as truly a sacrifice in the cause of 
liberty as though he had fallen at Lexington or 
Concord. 

Nathaniel Merriam, killed at White Tlains, 
N.Y., Oct. 28, 1776. 

Sergt. Timothy Page, killed at White Plains, 
N.Y., Oct. 28, 1776. 

Moses Fitch, wounded at White Plains, ZST.Y., 
Oct. 28, 1776. 

James Eaton, killed July 6, 1777. He was in 
Capt. John Russell's company, commanded by- 
Col. Bradford, Esq. 

Reuben Bacon was at Concord, April 19, 1775; 
went into camp at Cambridge, and joined the 
regular army. He contracted a disease there, 
and died, May 15, 1775, at the age of seventeen 
years three months eleven days. His death oc- 
curred on the day that the first enrollment was 
made, proving that he died away from home. 

^Middlesex is denominated the monumental 
county, and memorial shafts are seen in many 
towns; but the brave deeds of the people of 
Bedford in the early wars are commemorated 
only through the gratitude of posterity. 

In 1857, Reuben Bacon, Esq., presented an 
order, which was adopted by the town, to peti- 
tion the Legislature for aid to erect a monument 
to Capt. Jonathan Wilson, killed at Concord, 
April 19, 1775. No favorable results followed. 
Francis Coggswell, representative to the General 
Court for that year, was one of the committee. 
The others were Reuben Bacon, Jonathan Bacon, 
and Cyrus Page. 

'•' It is never too late to repair an injury or pay 
a debt of gratitude.'"' 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Cit'U War, 1&GI~G6 — Indivkhial Strvice. 

Oiir country's welfare is pur first concern, 
And wlio promotes that best, best proves liis duty. 
Havard's Regui.us, 

Enl. 

Date of Enlistment. Co. & Regt. Foi-. 

George W. Webster, May 25, 1861, D, 2d, 8 yrs. 

Philip Moore, Aug. '>, 1802, D, .5th, ?> yns. 

Temporary resi»lent. 
Timothy Hurly, May 2."), I8iil, :; yrs. 



Enl. 

Date of Enlistment. Co. & Regt. For, 

Charles (.'owdry, .June 21), 18til, E, 12th, 3 yrs. 

Died in service in 18G4. 
William A. Edwards, .June 2i), 18(11, E, 12lh, :! yrs. 

Served full term. 
.John F. Gragg, .June 2(1, 1801, E, 12th, :! yrs. 

Walter F. Blake, -June 2(1, 18(31, E, 12th, :i yrs. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg ; pensioned for loss of limb, 
not amputated. 
John Albert Pierce, .July 11, 18(il, D, 12th, yrs. 

.Joseph Pierce, .July 11, 18(11, yrs. 

Marcus R. .Johnson, Aug. 7, 18(11, B, l.>th, :! yrs. 

Passed tlirongh many hard battles, and escaped injury. 
Isaiah W. Foss, Aug. h, 18(11, .'J yrs. 

.John F. Gleason, Aug. 10, 1801, F, 22il, :J yrs. 

Transferred to war department, at Washington, October, 
1863; enlisted in the general service, Aug. 10, 1S64 ; dis- 
charged, Feb. 9, 1865 ; time of service, 4J years. 
Eliab S. Wilkins, 1st Cav. 

Lyman Center, Aug. l."), 1801, F, 10th. 

Samuel W. Stearns, Oct. 1, 18(11, B, l-'ith, ?, yrs. 

See sketch on page 69. 
O. V. Cone, Oct. 1, 1801, X.Y. Bat. :! yrs. 

Killed at second Bull Run. 
Charles W. Limt, Oct. .5, 1801, F, 22d, :) yrs. 

See sketch on page 69. 
Robert W. Edwards, Oct. 18, 1861, E, 20th, M yrs 

Served full time. 

Cyrus Page, Oct. IS, 1801, E, 20th, U yrs. 

Henry Hosiner, .Jan. 20, 1802, Otli Bat. 3 yi's. 

Enlisted as artificer, and was in the battle that resulted in 

tlie capture of New Orleans, where he died of disease. 

Patrick A. McUonough, .Jan. 20, 1802, 47th, 3 yrs. 

Deserted, Nov. 9, 1862. 
Robert Flinn, .Jan. 23, 1862, 1st, 3 yrs. 

Groverner A. Page, Aug. .5, 1802, D, 33d, 3 yrs. 

Was at battle of Missionary Ridge, where he lost left arm, 
October, 1863; discharged, April C, 1804. 
.John Williams, Aug. 5, 1802, D, 33d, 3 yrs. 

.Jonathan Albert Perry, Aug. 5, 18(52, D, 33d, 3 yrs. 
Peter Doyel, Aug. 12, 1802, I, 22d, 3 yrs. 

George Goodwin, Aug. 1,5, 1802, F, 22d, 3 yrs. 

Wounded, .June 4, IStU, at battle of Cold Harbor, Va. ; dis- 
charged, Oct. 17, 1864. 
Martin Bird, Aug. 12, 18(i2, 29th, 3 yrs. 

Daniel H. Butters, Sept. 0, 1802, Sharp Shooters. 

George H. Barker, Sept. 12, 1862, D, 44th, 9 ms. 

Alfred Johnson, Sept. 12, 1862, F, 44th, 9 ms. 

John Page, Sept. 12, 1802, D, 44th, 9 ms. 

Edward F. Webber, Sept. 12, 1802, F, 44th, 9 ms. 

Harry Xourse, Sept. 12, 1802, D, 44th, ms. 

Corp. John F. Mansfield, Oct. o, 1802, D, 33d, 3 yi-s. 

Served full time. 
George A. Mansfield, Oct. 5, 1802, D, :;3d, 3 yi-s. 

Discharged llarch 12, 18C3, for ilisability. 
Elbridge Jones, Sept. 2(1, 1802, B, 4.")th, 9 ms. 

Isaac L. Watts, Oct. 1.5, 1S02, Ci, 47th, 9 ms. 

Disabled. 
John Isaacs, Oct. 16, 1862, D, 10th, 3 yrs. 

Thomas Isaacs, Oct. 10, 1802, D, 10th, 3 yrs. 

Died in service in 1863. 
Charles H. Johnson, Oct. 1.5, 1802, G, 47th, '.) ms. 
Thomas W. Hill, Oct. 15, 18(i2, G, 47th, 9 ms. 

Charles W. Webber, Oct. 15. 1802, G, 47th, 9 ms. 

Emerson B. Cutler, Oct. 1.5, 1862, G, 47th, 9 ms. 

Gaton O. Wood, Oct. 15, 1862, G, 47th, 9 ms. 

James Munroe, Oct. 15, 1862, G, 47th, 9 ms. 

Died in 1SG3, from disease contracted in the service. 



BEDFORD. 



69 



Enl. 

Date of Kiilistnifiit. Co. & Kegt. For. 

William A. Houghton, Dec. 8, 1S(J3, 1st H.A. o yrs. 

Killeil at North Aiiii.1 Kivor, Va., by the buretiiig of a shell. 

Edward Mt'iiitt. Dec. s, ISO:!, 

Augustus F. Davis, .lau. il, l>;<i4, 

Dischargeil, .Inly IS, 1SG3. 



Edwin M. Biooks, 
.John II. Brown, 
Robert C. Bird, 
Frederick Davis, 
Albert L. Dutton, 
William F. Frost, 
.Joseph .V. Goodwin, 



.Inly Hi, 1S(U,' 

.Inly l(i, ISlU, 

.July Ki, IStU, 

.luly 10, 1804, 

.July 10, lS(i4, 

.July 10, 1804, 

.luly 10, 1804, 

Hail serve*! as captain's boy in Company C, Forty-fourth 

Regiment, before this campaign, 

Samuel L. Lane,' .July 10, 1804, D, Olli, 100 ds. 

Jonas E. Muuroe, .July 10, 1804, D, Otli, 100 ds. 

Harry Nourse, .luly 11!, 1804, D, (ith, 100 ds. 

Served nine months in Company I), Forty-fourth Regiment. 



2d H.A 


. 3 yrs. 


1st Cav. 


•") yrs. 


D, 0th, 


100 ds. 


I), 0th, 


100 ds. 


D, 0th, 


100 ds. 


1), 0th, 


lOU ds. 


D, 0th, 


100 ds. 


D, (ith, 


100 ds. 


D, 0th, 


100 ds. 



Charles F. Robinson, .July 10, 1804, 
Samuel Sage, .July Ki, 1804, 

See family recoril. 
Thomas S. Stone, .July 10, 

Charles W. Webber, July 10, 

Served nine months previously. 
Edwin F. Webber, July Ki, 

Served nine months previously. 



18(i4, 
18(i4, 



D, 0th, 
D, 0th, 

D, (ith, 
D, (ith. 



100 ds. 
100 ds. 

100 ds. 
100 ds. 



18(i4, D, 0th, 100 ds. 



Thomas Welch,t 
Thomas Walter.t 
Edward Kippler.t 
James Donley,t 
Charles Xolton,t 
Warren II. Holbrook, 

Died in 18G4 in service 
Daniel H. Miller, 



April 8, 181)4, 
April 8, 1804, 
-Vpril 8, 18(i4, 
April 8, 1804, 
April 8, 1804, 
Aug. ■><), 1804, 



20th, 
20th, 
2(Jth, 
20th, 
28th, 
:;Oth, 



;5 yrs. 
3 yrs. 
3 yrs. 
3 yrs, 
3 yrs. 
3 yrs. 



Discharged, for disability, Sept. 3. 1864. 



Abraham T. Taylor, -Vug. 2."), 1804, 

Joshua B. Thompson, -Vug. 20, 1804, 
George .\. Butters, Aug. 27, 1804, 

Joel .V. Mansfield, Aug. 27, 18(U, 

William A. Edwards, Dec. 29, 1804. 

Had previously served three years. 
Joshua .Vtwood, 1804. 

Drafted, entered the service, and died the same year. 



:!2d, 
2d Cav. 
2d Cav. 
2d Cav. 



IstBat.H.-V.lyr. 



Aug. 2.5, 1804, 0th Bat. 3 yrs. 



3 yrs. 
1 yr. 
1 yr. 
1 yr. 



Thomas F. Hayes, Feb. Vi, 180.J, 

Owen Cocoran, Feb. l.-j, 18(j.j. 

Joseph Baylow.f 
William Kenrick.} 
William Ross.t 
Leonard Russell. t 



Samuel W. Stearns was a member of a com- 
pany of state militia of Fitcliburg which enlisted 
and entered the service as Company B, Fif- 
teenth Regiment, when the war broke out. Be- 
ing under eighteen years of age, he went as 
captain's boy. He served in this capacity six 
months, when, having obtained the requisite 
age, he enlisted as a private, and was soon made 
corporal. He was in the liospital at Portsmouth 

• The one hundred days men were nuistered in, .July 16, 1S64, 
at Camp Jleigs, Rcadville, Mass., by Capt. George CiibsoB. 
t Hired from out of town. 
t state at large. 



Grove, R.I., for a season, suffering from disease 
contracted during service under General McClel- 
lan in the Peninsula campaign. He joined his 
regiment in camp, August 28, I860, and in the 
following October received a mortal wound in 
the head during the engagement at Bristoe Sta- 
tion, Va., from which he died October 14. He was 
hastily buried with his comrades near where he 
fell, and in the following spring was disinterred 
and brought to Bedford, where he rests in a 
patriot's grave. A comrade wrote of his bravery 
during the battle of White Oak Swamp thus -. 
" Samuel stood like a little veteran, while some 
men in the regiment flinched under the terrible 
fire we received." 

Charles W. Lunt was nuistered into the ser 
vice as corporal, at Lynnfield, Oct. 5, 1861. His 
term of service covered two years and seven 
months, and included many of the most severe 
experiences of the war. He was engaged in 
the following battles : Yorktowu, Williamsburg, 
Hanover Court House, Gaines Mill (was wound- 
ed in the chin in this engagement, and soon pro- 
moted to sergeant), Fair Oaks, Savage Station, 
Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, Antietam, Chancel- 
lorsville, Rappahannock Court House, Wilder- 
ness, Laurel Hill, and Spottsylvania, where he 
was wounded in the thigh, and suffered ampu- 
tation of the leg. He died iit an ambulance 
train en route for Washington, D.C., jMay 11, 
1864, at the age of thirty-one years. He was 
buried with thirteen others at Belle Plain, and 
afterwards reinterred in tlie National Cemetery 
at Petersburg. His wish, often expressed, was : 
"If I die on the field of battle, let me be buried 
with my comrades."' The death of the soldier's 
father had called him home on a furlough in the 
spring of 1864, and his return to the army was 
soon followed by severe battles, in one of which 
he received the mortal wound. The testimony 
of his comrades shows him to have been a brave 
soldier. A letter from Hon. Henry Wilson, of 
the United States Senate, received one month 
before the death of Sergeant Lunt, has the fol- 
lowing : " He is a sergeant in Company F, and a 
good soldier, who has always sustained an excel- 
lent character." His name is seen on the sol- 
diers' monument erected by the ladies of Bed- 
ford, and the " Lunt ilemorial," a window in the 
church where he worshipped, keeps his name 
and that of his parents in the minds of the peo- 
ple of his native town. 

"Give me the death of those, 
Wlio for their country die; 
And, oh I be mine like their repose. 
When cold and low they lie. 



70 



BEDFORD. 



Their loveliest mother earth 

Enshrines the fallen brave: 
In her sweet lap who gave them birth 

They find their tranquil grave.'' 

Naval Service. — "William F. Gragg, entered 
the service, Aitgust, 1862, as surgeon's steward, 
on the " Housatonic," which was destroyed by 
torpedoes, February, 1864; was then in service 
on the "Circassian"; died at home, Dec. 24, 
1864, having served about eighteen years in the 
United States navy. 

William "Williams, entered the service as black- 
smith, on the " Fearnot." 

J. Edson Farnswortli, Jr., entered the service 
as surgeon's steward, on the "Circassian." 

Charles E. Hosmer, entered the service, June, 
1864, as surgeon's steward, on the " Santiago de 
Cuba"; was promoted to assistant surgeon, and 
transferred to the Mississippi squadron, on the 
"St. Clair"; discharged Oct. 13, 1865. He was 
in the North Atlantic blockading sc[uadron at 
the two battles of Fort Fisher, Dec. 24 and 25, 
1864, and Jan. 14 and 15, 1865. 

Albert P. Sampson was commissioned as mas- 
ter's mate, in 1862; was in the Gulf squadron, 
under Admiral Farragut ; was promoted to an 
ensign in 1863, and received an honorable dis- 
charge at the close of the war. 

Citizens of Bedford credited elsewhere who 
died in the service, and are honored by their 
native town or adopted home : — 

Albert L. Butler was born in Leominster, 
March 6, 1832, and moved to Bedford when an 
infant. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Com- 
pany A, Massachusetts Forty-fourth Regiment, 
from Cambridge, where he was clerk of the 
police court. He was in camp at Readville 
from August 29 to October 22, when the regi- 
ment sailed for North Carolina, reaching New 
Berne, October 26. The regiment started on 
what is called the Goldsboro expedition, Decem- 
ber 11. In a skirmish at Whitehall he was 
wounded, December 16, and died in an ambu- 
lance, Dec. 19, 1862. His remains were buried 
at New Berne, N,C., December 22, and later dis- 
interred and brought to Bedford, where they 
were finally laid. 

Clark C. Cutler entered the service as a mem- 
ber of Company G, Forty-seventh Massachusetts 
Volunteers, and died before being ordered to the 
field, Oct. 25, 1862. 

Charles W. Goodwin enlisted at East Cam- 
bridge, at the first call for men, in Companj- A, 
Massachusetts Sixteenth Regiment; re-enlisted 
July, 1861; was wounded at the second battle 
of Bull Run, August 27, 1862, and died Septem- 



ber 5, from the woitnds, at the age of nineteen 
years. Epitaph : 

" Sleep on, dear Charlie, take thy rest : 
No more shall war's tumultuous sound 
Disturb thy calm and pulseless breast. 
Nor glittering sword with thee be foimd." 

John Byron. 

Charles A. Saunders died of disease in the 
hospital at New Orleans, August 24, 1864. 

Memorial hymn, bj^ Josiah A. Stearns, A.M., 
Ph.D.: — 

["Home Aijalny ] 
Wake the heart, wake the voice, 

Floral honors bring; 
And here for every soldier boy 

Let grateful anthems ring; 
And, oh, their brave heroic deeds 

.Shall our rejoicing be, 
For tltey have won a martyr's crown, 

And saved our coimtry free ; 
"Wake the heart, wake the voice, 

Floral honors bring: 
And here for every soldier Ijoy 

Let grateful anthems ring. 

Father's love, sisters' tear, 

Sleepless mother's prayer, 
With lofty zeal inspired their soul 

The foeman's wrath to dare; 
And now they sleep so peaceful here, 

Be loving garlands spread 
To s%veetly deck the hero's couch 

And crown his honored head. 
Father's love, sisters' tear, 

Sleepless mother's prayer, 
With lofty zeal inspired their soul 

The foeman's wrath to dare. 

God of peace, God of war, 

God of love divine, 
Oh, spread thy ever sheltering wings 

Above the soldier's shrine; 
And long shall pilgrims hither come 

And tell the reason why 
We 'grave for them on victor's roll 

A name to never die. 
God of peace, God of war, 

God of love divine, 
Oh, spread thy ever sheltering wings 

Above the soldier's shrine. 

Fare ye well, fare ye well. 

Rest, ye soldiers true, 
And ever more shall grateful men 

Attest their love for you: 
And, wildly clanking broken chains, 

The dusky millions free, 
With hands upraised to God shall pray, 

Ou you his glory be. 
Fare ye well, fare ye well. 

Rest, ye soldiers true, 
And evermore shall grateful men 

Attest their love for you. 



BEDFOBIX 



71 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

.1 He'ff'ortl H'oinnu's K.cjn Hence. 

P.iLi.EKiiA. .Mass.. Jan. 1, ISDl. 
Mr. Abkam E. Bkowx. 

Dear Sir, — Your letter is before lue a.sking- 
for some account of my army life in Washington. 
For two reasons, I feel tliat I should comply with 
your request. First, the time has already come 
when every incident of the war, connected with 
any one, however humble, has its value. 

Second, so much sympathy and aid was given 
me in my sorrowful ex|ierience by Bedford peo- 
ple, that it seems tit that I should make mention 
of their '"loving kindness." 

In my husband's note book, I tind tlie follow- 
ing: -'Tues., July 2U, 1864. Chas. Webber and 
self went to Lowell ; enlisted in Co. D., 6th Reg., 
Capt. Hart. Capt. H. came to Bedford in p..m. 
and enlisted others." "Thurs., July 14. Went 
to camp to-da}'. S. Sage, C. W. Webber, S. Lane, 
J. E. -Monroe, E. Brooks, J. Brown. F. Robinson, 
T. Stone, W. Frost, H. Nourse, A. Dutton, F. 
Davis, G. Butter's, F. Stearns." 

" Friday, 15th. E. Webber and J. Goodwin 
came in to-day. Stearns goes home, anxious to 
enlist, but does not pass the recpiired measure- 
ment ; Lieut, offers to take him as waiter. Tom- 
my Stone increased tlie circumference of his 
chest by placing his tin dinner plate within his 
blouse. Companies come in fast, one or two mus- 
tered in to-day." •' Wed., 2()th. At 1 p.m. started 
for Washington, t-iu Prov. and Stonington ; steam- 
boat to N.V. City." "Thurs., 21st. ' From N.Y. 
about I'.M. by boat to Amboy, through between 
Staten Island and Jersey, thence across by rail 
to Camden and Philadelphia," Having reached 
camp. Mr. Sage was assigned to hospital duty ; 
previous to this he had assisted Captain Hart as 
company clerk. I tind this among my papers : 
•• Head Quarters, 6th Reg't. Guard will pass 
Private Sage (hospital nurse) to quarters and 
return at all times till countermanded. W. 
Jiurnham, Surg., July, '64." 

This is his last entry, short, but explicit. 
'■ Mon., July 25. Caved in Sunday night, sick. 
Sick Monday." Mr. Sage was the only one of 
the " hundred <lays men " from Bedford who 
was in a hos])ital more than a few da)'s at a 
time. From his last entry it will be seen that 
he was under a iihysician's care four days after 
reaching the camp of the 6th Regiment, and so 
remained until his term expired. 

On the morning of August 15, following, my 
neighbor. Mrs. Jonas Monroe, came into my home 
with an open letter in her hand, and — in that 



motherly way ever so characteristic of her — 
said, '• I've just had a letter from Jone which he 
wishes me to read to you." It stated that my 
husband was growing worse, was suffering from 
great depression of spirits, caiised by his disease, 
was lying on a board, with his army blanket for 
a bed, that their own hospital was just done, and 
he would soon be in an army cot ; also that the 
surgeons of the 6th, Drs. Burnham and Bass of 
Lowell, had given their consent to my coming to 
him. 

My little daughter Mary, seventeen months 
old, that had never been away from me, was 
taken over to grandmother Sage's, to be under 
" Auntie Sage's " care for nearly tAvo months ; 
I at ;-) P.M., with ^Ir. Stiles, who wished to see his 
nepliew, Tommy Stone, I was on my way to 
Washington. Our minister, who will ever have 
a warm place in the hearts of many Bedford 
people. Rev. William J. Batt, came to the stage 
door, and extending his hand, said, " My prayers 
and sympathies are with you and yours." 

One incident of my journey was the novel way 
in which I crossed the Susquehanna River at 
Havre de Grace, Md. ; the railroad bridge had 
been destroyed by the late rebel raid, and the 
train passed over on a floating bridge, which 
seemed to me like a succession of farmer's drags 
joined together by chains, shaking up and down 
by the weight of the cars in a strange way. A 
regiment of soldiers, at equal distances apart, 
on either side, guarded this bridge. The whole 
thing was so novel and unexpected, that, like the 
little old woman in ^Mother Goose, I had doubts 
of my identity and wondered " if this be I." 

Although I have been in deeper waters since, 
yet I shall never forget the previous hot night 
aboard the boat. I had left my little Mary, who, 
I knew, would miss her niother ; and I knew not 
if I were to meet the living or the dead. My 
suspense was simidy torture. Xor did it end 
here ; although we reached Washington the after- 
noon of the 16th, yet, for want of a pass, we 
could not go to the camp of the 6th Regiment 
until the next forenoon, when Rev. J. F. Glea- 
son, now of Needham, ^Mass., then in govern- 
ment employ in Washington, procured our ])ass 
for us and went with us to camp, kindly carry- 
ing my heavy basket. We crossed Aqueduct 
Bridge, which was guarded by soldiers, that arti- 
cles "contraband of war," liquor being such, 
should not be smuggled over. Rev. J. F. G. said 
to the guards, "This is the lady's basket, and 
contains pins, needles, thread, laces, etc.," which 
was all true, the " etc." being a flask of brandy 
and a bottle of rum. I never took so long a 
walk on so hot a day. 



72 



BEDFORD. 



The hospital was a htiig one-stoiy buikliiig of 
rough boarils, and externally resembled a farm- 
er's uupainted woodshed. There was an open 
dining-room at one end, and the front door 
opened directly into the hospital. Keaching it, 
Mr. Gleason and Mr. Stiles paused to remove 
perspiration from their faces, and use the fans 
they had brought from the city. Heat was a 
secondary matter to me. The anxiety of the 
previous four weeks had been so great that I 
could scarcely lift my feet over the threshold. 
Looking in, I counted thirteen army cots ; enter- 
ing, I turned to the left, resolved to look in each 
one in order till I found the face I wanted. In 
the first bed I saw the thin pale face of a sick 
boy. Anxious though I was to see my husband, 
I could not leave this poor lad without a word. 
The wretchedness of the whole thing flashed 
before me. There was some mother's dear child, 
sick and away from home and kindred. Placing 
my hand on his hot forehead, I asked his name. 
If I remember correctly, he said he was Alfred 
D. Cutler, from Lexington, Mass., and_seventeen 
years old. He was a brother of the late Mrs. 
Lewis Spaulding. He seemed pleased when I 
told him that he did not seem quite a stranger, 
for his sister once taught our district school. 
The next cot was in a corner, empty, a chair by 
it, on which was a plate containing food, and a 
tumbler of liquid, around which a platoon of 
flies was " keeping guard " — everything military 
here. A nurse was making the bed ; I asked 
who occupied it, and he said, " A fellow whose 
name is Sage," and, pointing to the chair, said, 
" There's his breakfast now, and he won't eat, 
and he won't drink." My husband was bolstered 
up in a tipiied back rocking-cliair. I cojjy from 
my note-lwok. " Wed., Aug. 17. Eeached the 
hospital at Arlington at 11 a.m., unprepared to 
find Samuel so much depressed. His first words 
were, ' Sorry you came, j'ou can"t do me any good, 
nobody can, nothing can.' 

" Good Dr. Burnham has given up his room to 
me, for he says there is no other place for me. 
There are two Ohio regiments encamped here, 
besides the Gth Massachusetts, and I am the 
only ' daughter of the regiment.' " 

" Aug. 18. I lodged at Mrs. Hooker's — in Dr. 
Burnham's room — she says her husband is 
Capt. in the 2d N.Y. Eegiment. Slept on a 
lounge with a government blanket for a spread, 
in a lower front room, with a door from it open- 
ing directly on the sidewalk, the door open all 
night because of the heat, and sentinels walking 
back and forth all night. 

" Mrs. Hooker complacently remarks that I 
will soon get used to this state of things. She 



is about half a mile from the hospital. I ride 
to and from in an army wagon. Dined in the 
dining-room adjoining the hospital to-day with 
Dr. Burnham and some others ; one course only, 
fried salt pork, hasty pudding and molasses. 
The ' service ' was tin plates, quart tin dippers, 
and generous sized, stout, iron knives and forks. 
Sam Lane and Jone Munroe watched with Sam- 
uel, who slept but little." 

" Fri., Aug. 19. The noise in tlie hospital has 
worried Samuel, and Dr. Burnham has had him 
moved on a stretcher to a little log house of two 
rooms near by, built by soldiers encamped here 
in 1862. It is primitive in construction, but 
my room has a beautiful carved mantel, confis- 
cated from some dwelling. — ■ a striking contrast 
to the rest of the building. I shall stay here all 
the time now. 

"My bedstead to-night will be an empty water- 
ing trough, to be exchanged to-morrow for an 
iron army one. Dr. Burnham has given us a 
rubber water-pail, dipper and candlestick, re- 
questing me not to burn it late, as we are in 
Virginia. Jone, or some of the others, brings 
me food from camij on a tin plate : it never 
burns me. I witnessed dress jjarade of our regi- 
ment to-day, and went into Fort Smith. The 
gunners told me the names of the different kinds 
of guns, and showed me how they were raised 
and lowered. Little blackboards on the wall 
beside them had printed directions in regard to 
kind and quantity of ammuniti<.»n to be used, 
and instructions in regard to angle of elevation, 
etc. 

" Capt. Hart, Lieut. Peudergast and the sur. 
geons were the highest in rank of any I had 
spoken with until yesterday, when, staiuling bj' 
my small open window, I noticed a splendid 
black horse coming towards me, bearing a rider 
in rich uniform, finer than anything I had be- 
fore seen. Stopping before my hovel, and lift- 
ing his hat. he said with dignity, ' Madam, by 
whose authoritj' are you here ? ' 

" Slipping my hand into my pocket for my 
pass, and reaching it towards him, I said, ' By 
permission of 3Iaj. Gen. Auger of the Depart- 
ment of Washington.' He bowed and rode 
away. I have been told to-day that he was Maj. 
Gen. Auger himself." 

" Sat., Aug. 20. Saw a ' rebel ' for the first 
time this morning. I was early at my window, 
enjoying the rain, a corporal knocked at the door 
and asked if I had seen any one pass recentlj-. 
I said I had just seen a tall, pale, red-haired 
man, smoking a corn-cob pipe, walk slowly by. 
The corporal stated that the man was an escaped 
prisoner from the guard-house, the corporal hav- 



BEDFORD. 



73 



iug tunii-'d liis head to get his overcoat to shiehl 
liiniself t'lom the rain. 

" Evening. I am in sore trouble and anxiety 
again ! Just settled in this lutt, wliere it is 
quiet, and where I had hoped 1 was to remain 
for a time." 

" At 8 I'.Ji. to-niglit. Drs. IJurnhilm ami Baae 
came in together, and said tliat I must quietly 
make every preparation to leave in the morning ; 
the regiment is ordered to Fort Delaware, and 
tliat Samuel will have' to be taken to some hos- 
l)ital in Washington. The Drs. have both been 
kind to us, and Dr. Burnham was fatherly and 
sympathetic as he bade me good-bye, said he 
pitied me, and if he and Samuel both lived till 
the war was over, he will surely come to our 
home to see us. 

" Since the war, a woman unattended is re- 
garded with distrust at a hotel in Washington, 
besides, if it were not so, it is too expensive, as 
I may have to stay many weeks. 

" I don't know where I can put my head. 
Edward Everett Hale's ' A nuvu without a coun- 
try ' never felt worse than I do to-night. All 
the other wives and mothers, combined, of the 
'hundred days men from Bedford ' have not had 
the anxiety 1 feel, for none of theirs have been 
very sick.'" 

" Sun., Aug. 21. This morning an ambulance, 
with a driver and the hospital steward, came to 
the door. Samuel was lifted in on a stretcher, 
beside another soldier from Jliddleton, iMass., 
suffering from sciatica. Poor Samuel says he 
wishes we would let him die, without shaking 
him around so. All the others in the 6th hos- 
pital are able to go on with the regiment, I 
crawled into the ambulance beside the sick men. 
I had a fan in one liand, and a teaspoon and a 
bottle of brandy and water in the other, for 
moistening their lips. Samuel made no sound, 
the other man groaned at every lurch. There 
was no worn road ; seemingly, we went any 
way, across the hot sand, among low bushes and 
stunted pines, and over gullies with small logs 
placed across them, I saw quite a number of 
dead mules and swine by the wayside. As we 
neared the city, the rough pavements were a 
change. We stojiped at the Armory Square 
Hosiiital, near the Smithsonian building. This 
hospital building is owned by the U.S,, and used 
as an armory in time of peace. 

'•The grounds are beautifully laid out, and Sm-. 
Gen. Bliss has his headfiuarters here. I waited 
without while the sick men were being taken 
within, the steward going by them as the nurses 
carried tliem in : the driver chatted with some 
half sick soldiers sitting on a bench by the door. 



When the steward came down stairs, he missed 
his army overcoat from the seat. He asked the 
men at the door about it, and then came to me, 
and in a hesitating way asked if I could tell him 
where it was ; said he was told by some of the 
men that I might know something about it ; that 
he would not have asked, only that he supposed 
the regiment would remain in the Baltimore 
depot that night and he would need it badly, 
I wonder what will happen to me next ! This 
hospital is always full of many of the worst cases, 
because it is nearest the boat landing. There 
are now here nearly 3()0(> sick and wounded. 
There are tents numbering from A to Z and 
from 1 to 29, that I have seen. Samuel is in the 
Armory, ward 1. The building is three stories 
high. There are two rows of large pillars in the 
room ; around them, in time of jieace, double 
rows of guns are stacked ; large cases are around 
the walls of the room, for ammunition and other 
army supplies. The lower ward is occupied by 
those who are able to walk around. In this and 
the room above are 2(i0 beds, all having spreads 
alike, graj" linen checked with red. A framed 
card on each headboard tells • the name, age, 
rank, regiment, disease and date of entrance of 
each patient. The physician in charge is Dr. Euf- 
fin, of l*liiladel]jliia, — a gentleman despite his 
name. Each ward has a hospital steward, ward- 
master, head nurse, and four assistant nurses, 
all men. The lady nurse is Gen. Hawley's wife 
of Connecticut." 

" Tues., Aug. 23. I can enter here at S a.m. 
and remain until 6 p.m. I think I shall not 
come again until 9 o'clock, for more than half in 
this room have lost a limb, quite a number more 
than one, and I cannot bear to hear the groans 
when they are dressed. This is done by a 'con- 
tract doctor,' as the nurses call him, who comes 
in every morning for this alone, 

" A boy in the bed next Samuel's interests me 
much, has had typhoid fever, and now cannot 
sit up. He looks as I imagine a famished grey 
wolf may look. The gaunt face, eyes, and hands 
all have a grey tinge, his hair inclines that way, 
and his dressing-gowa is that color. He is sev- 
enteen years old, and belongs to the 2d Peun. 
Provisionals ; was three weeks in the rifle pits 
at I'etersburg, night and day ; these had been 
occupied before by the Confederates. The poor 
boj^ seems so grateful for his care here, says he 
was sick while in the pit, that it was infested 
with bodj- vermin, and he smiled as he said that 
they were so old that they ' had plumes on their 
heads, a grey stripe down each leg, and CS.A, 
on their backs.' He knew nothing from the 
time he was in the pit, until he was told he had 



BEDFORD. 



beeu three weeks in his bed here. Was brought 
on the boat to Washington, and said to me, ' I 
never had a boat ride in my life before, and 
didn't know a thing about this one. Wasn't it 
too bad ? ' 

" Every thing is very systematic, and all the 
arrangements are first-class throughout this hos- 
pital. Each morning the doctor writes against 
each patient's name the' food for each meal, the 
hospital steward copies the list and sends his 
order to the cookhouse, from which narrow 
gauge tracks are laid to each ward. The closed 
cars are fitted with shelves, and the waiters 
bring the specified food, hot and appetizing, to 
each man's cot. Better baked beans and Indian 
pudding I never tasted." 

•■ Wed., Au"-. 24. Mr. and Mrs. Gleason in- 
vited nie to their home Sunday and Monday 
nights. Through their influence I am now in a 
fine looking confiscated residence, provided by 
loyal women of the city for women who have 
come to care for sick soldiers. There are to-day 
fifteen of these, of different beliefs and walks in 
life, supposed to be alike in their loyalty. 

•' The matron is ^Irs. Calvert. She says she 
is a lineal descendant of Lord Baltimore ; that 
her home, near JNIanassas, has been occupied 
seven times, first by one army and then the 
other. 

" She is one of a type I have often read about 
but never before seen, — a Southern housekeeper. 
She cfni'ies her low willow basket of keys with 
her continually, and deals out to old ' Mammy,' 
the cook and maid of all work, the tea, coffee, 
sugar, etc., for each day, keeping drawers and 
closets locked. When we enter, she looks us 
over as though we were store packages, and 
arranges us where she judges we will ' fit ' best. 
I have the honor to be placed in the best room 
for •' transients,' with four others, — a mother 
and daughter from (Jhio, an Irish woman from 
X.Y. City, and a ^Irs. Chadwiek from Philadel- 
phia, who keeps two servants when at home. 
We are in the third story, and above us they 
are still more crowded. The price for board is 
37i- cents a meal, to sit at the matron's table in 
the dining-room, or L*.'5 cents to eat in the base- 
ment, taking one's turn in dcjing the cooking for 
all there and the kitchen work for the day. 
^Irs. Chadwiek and I decided we would try the 
latter ; but when we went below and found that 
the wood, four feet long, was to be cut and split 
Viy each one, that the old axe was very dull, that 
we must go up stairs and across the street for 
water, we concluded that the matron's table 
would be the cheapest for us. The women below 
look upon us with disfavor, and no wonder, for 



the greater the number, the less often comes 
each one's turn for a hard day's work. At the 
matron's table the breakfast never varies. The 
coffee is good, and we have boiled salted her- 
ring, not freshened any, and biscuit. ' Mammy ' 
kneads them, and tosses them, and pinches them, 
until it seems as if some of the black from her 
fingers must get into them, but they are so white 
and just delicious ! " " Fri., Aug. 26. Same 
thing every day for dinner I I can't endure it 
any longer, the look is enough ! The cooking at 
the camp of the Gth was better than this. Our 
meat is from the side of pork — such as we salt 
at home, — salted until it will take no nrore, and 
smoked till it will take no more, boiled and 
served in the water in which it is cooked, with 
long, large, strong, soggy potatoes, with a coi'e 
in nearly every one, in the watei' also." 

" Sat., Aug. 27. Have had my first experi- 
ence in this city at a restaurant to-day. Tea 
and coffee can only be had by the pot-full, price 
20 cents. Asked for boiled eggs ; the waiter 
said, • We have no hens' eggs, ma'am, only keets'.' 
I asked what kind of things * keets ' were, and if 
their eggs tasted like those of hens. He gave 
me a commiserating look and replied, ' In what 
part of the country were you raised, that you 
don't know guinea keets ? ' I ate the eggs, and 
I don't know whether they are like those of 
hens or not, it is so long since I tasted one. For 
dinner at the same place I had a small saircer of 
succotash ; but as I had to pay 60 cents for it, I 
think it will be all I need." 

'■Wed., xVug. .'^1. ;Mrs. Chadwiek and 1, wish- 
ing more variety, buy from the bake-shops, and 
get our own breakfasts, keeping tea, coffee, sugar, 
and coffee-pots in our trunks in the tliird story, 
and prepare and eat our fooil iu the basement. 
Some of the women here have no love for us, 
particularly two, fair looking sisters from North 
Carolina. They are poor whites, often called 
' sand crackers.' 

•' This morning one of them refused me water 
from the tea-kettle, and turning to her sister 
said, she ' lowed Mass'chusetts was the meanest 
State in the Union.' After every meal they 
take out their snuff-boxes, tin salve-boxes, and 
with a wet match rub snuff on their teeth, — the 
first ' snuff dippers ' I have seen." 

"Sept. 4. The matron amuses me, while I am 
a mj-stery to her. She invited me to spend Jast 
evening with her in her parlor. She was in 
Massachusetts once, at the laying of the corner- 
stone of Bunker Hill Monument, and saw no 
signs of poverty. She says I seem to be an 
intelligent woman, and she can't understand 
how I'm willing to do my own housework. 



BEDFORD. 



75 



Should think I would 'have no social position 
•whatever.' I really think she works much harder 
than I do ; for when she is not carrying keys, 
locking and unlocking, she works continually 
with a sewing-machine, but then the door to her 
room is shut. The ostrich hides its head. She 
says that the valuable old Calvert library at her 
home has been robbed by both armies ; and that 
Mazeppa, in one of Byron's poems, was a real 
person, not fictitious, as many suppose. If she 
was a northern woman, I should wish to ask 
her authority for the statement ; I do not think 
it best. She carries the keijs." 

" Sept. 5. Old Mammy is very kind to !Mrs. 
C. and myself, and gives us water for oiir tea 
every morning from the tea-kettle she uses. Her 
sick grandchild has long needed a pair of shoes, 
which she has been unable to provide, as she 
only gets her board and clothing for her work 
here. !Mrs. Chadwick and I gave lier the money 
for the shoes ; and as I handed it to her I saw 
an instance of the poetic nature of her race. 
She stooped, and raising the front of jny dress 
to her lips, kissed it, saying, ' De good Lor' bress 
you an' Mis' Ginr'l Banks, an' may yo' walk in- 
de sunshine ob' glory all yo' life.' I asked her 
why she placed ' Jtis' Ginr'l Banks ' and myself 
together. She said she once washed for Mrs. 
B., wlio had been kind to her and given her 
many things, and she * reckoned all dem yer 
Mars'cliusetts women are 'like.' " 

" Sept. 6. To-day looked on what I never 
saw before, and hope I never may again, — a 
slave-pen, where in times past slaves were sold 
at auction. It is a small yard enclosed with a 
wooden fence ; the gate was looked, but through 
the palings I could see the high block on which 
many a trembling slave has stood. Even the 
sign over the gate was suggestive, 'Price & 
Birch.' It made me think of Cassey, Emeline, 
and Uncle Tom." 

" Sept. 7. Mrs. Hawlej-, the lady nurse, left 
some time ago for her vacation. I am the only 
woman in this ward, here most of the time till 
6 P.M. I find many who are glad to have me 
read, write, or talk with them ; occasionally I 
try to play games with some of the younger 
ones, but the prevailing opinion is that I am 
' remarkably stupid ' in regai'd to games. 

" A young dentist from Roxbury is in the 
ward above ; he has asked me to come up and 
see him every day, and read to him from Rev. 
J. W. Dadmun's collection of hymns. I told 
him to-day that I liked some of them very well, 
and he said that if he lives to reacli home, he 
intends to mai-ry Rev. J. W. D.'s daughter. 
There is a man in this ward from New Hamp- 



shire who has compound fracture of the knee, 
is in some pain most of the time, but looks 
well, a contrast to all others here. He does not 
care to have me read or speak to him ; Samuel 
and I call him ' South Carolina ' because he 
wishes to be ' let alone.' This morning, as I 
took my usual walk down the aisle, this man 
looked very solemn, his head resting on his 
hands. I felt that he was homesick. I suppose 
I was daring, but my desire was to call him 
out of himself, if I could. Acting from the im- 
pulse of the moment, I said, ' A penny for your 
thoughts, sir.' To my surprise, he did not frown 
as before when I had spoken to him, but quietly 
said, ' My thought is too foolish to tell ! ' I 
replied, ' Perhaps not.' ' Well,' he said, ' I was 
just wishing that I could have some buttermilk 
biscuit for breakfast, like those the woman 
used to make with whom I boarded in New 
Hampshire.' 

" He told me her name and the town in which 
she lived. I said that I had never tasted her 
biscuit, but knew her to be a lovely womanj 
that she was my husband's cousin, and came 
occasionally to my town, Bedford, to visit her 
sister, Mrs. Xathan 0. Reed. This fact seemed 
to make him social, and he signified his intention 
of walking down to Samuel's cot to see him as 
soon as he is able. I feel as though I had won 
a victory ! " 

" Sept. 8. Am having good suppers now ; 
have bought a peck of sweet potatoes. One of 
the cooks bakes some for me every night, and 
puts a piece of government butter on the plate 
with them ; they are brought up with Samuel's 
supper and I eat them by his cot. I insist upon 
the cook baking some for himself." 

"' Sept. 12. Went to church yesterday at the 
Epiphany ; sj)ecial services in all the churches, 
because of the fall of Atlanta. This afternoon 
went with a lady nurse, just from the front, to 
see the movement of the artillery horses when a 
hundred guns were fired because of this victory. 
The precision of the horses seemed wonderful 
to me. For this victory there was also a parade 
after I reached home. A letter from Jlr. Gleason 
at that time is before me ; referring to this, he 
says, ' The torchlight procession was the grand- 
est affair of the kind ever seen in these parts. 
Had you been here you might have heard the 
President make a speech and crack a joke.' " 

" Sept. 14. Went this evening with Mr. and 
Mrs. Gleason to the Old Soldiers ' Home, some 
distance from the city, to see President Lincoln. 
The Home is his summer residence. He passed 
us riding to it in an open landau, with a body 
guard of men on horseback, six in front and 



76 



BEDFOED. 



six behind. We waved our handkercliiefs and 
bowed, and he bowed in return." 

"Sept. 15. For exercise to-day I have been 
to the Capitol, as I often have of late. The 
room that impresses me the most is the Pres- 
ident's Reception Room. It is not so elegant as 
the Senate Reception Room, but it is suggestive 
of the Idstory of the United States. Upon the 
walls are portraits of the first Cabinet, while the 
rest' of it is a perpetual study, covered with 
paintings suggesting scenes in our country's life. 
To the beautiful paintings on the ceiling. Law, 
Religion, etc., Constantino Brimudi, the Italian 
artist, has given the face of his wife. 

" To me the most amusing sight in the Patent 
Office is the collection of men's dress, or fur 
hats, — wide and narrow rimmed, tall, short or 
bell-crowned, of various colors. 

" Among the earliest stoves, I hunted for the 
one on which my uncle, the minister, Josiah 
Hill, obtained a patent ; my father and the other 
brothers all had one ; the words, ' J. Hill's Pat- 
ent,' being on the hearth, which was a source of 
great delight to me when a very small child." 

" Sept. 16. With my help, Samuel has walked 
from his bed to the window to-day, the first 
steps he has taken for weeks. Some rebel pris- 
oners from the front passed bj', and he wished 
to see them. Their clothing seemed to be odds 
and ends of everything, not all butternut color 
by any means. Several had pieces of patchwork 
quilts for blankets." 

" Sept. 17. Samuel not as well to-day, in 
pain, and not out of his bed until 3 p.m., when 
the ward-master said he must go down stairs, 
because it is inspection day, and Dr. Bliss is the 
officer of the day : he decides who are able to go 
to the front. I have expostulated with the mas- 
ter in vain. He set his teeth firmly together, 
and said, ' Madam, he's got to go.' The man is 
cross, and he is sick, too. His left arm has been 
amputated, and gangrene is in the stump. He 
was overbearing yesterday to Dea. Paul Hay- 
wood of Boxboro' ; I think I shall tell the doc- 
tor to-morrow how things are. The master is in 
the regular army, and members of it, I notice, 
do not always like volunteers. One of the nurses 
had to help Samuel up and down the stairs. Ev- 
erything Dr. Bliss said was, ' Show your tongue, 
sir,' and, ' Go back to your bed ! ' " 

" Sept. 19. Went this morning to the domes- 
tic quarters of the hospital to hear the colored 
washerwomen sing ; a dozen in a row, all wearing 
turbans, their black arms moving up and down, 
and the white foam flying, how they did sing ! 
A revival hymu they wailed in fine style ; one 
verse was, — 



"'An' on dat da' dar'll be no hidin' place, 

An' on dat da' dar'll be no hidin' ijlace, 

An' on dat da' dar'll be no hidin' place, 

De gate' 11 be shut, an' ye cam git in.' 

" Then they changed to a pean of triumph, 
extolling those that had benefited their race. 
There were thirty-nine verses, all alike, except- 
ing the name, beginning with Robert Small, the 
colored pilot, who was the means of bringing 
relief to Fort Anderson, and ending with Abra- 
ham Lincoln. The last verse was, — 

" ' Mars' Linkum a settln' in de tree ob life. 
Mars' Linkum a settin' in de tree ob life. 
Mars' Linkum a settin' in de tree ob life, 
G-1-o-r-y in my soul ! ' 

" A chapel with a bell is on the grounds here, 
and every afternoon at 2 p.m. the bugle sovinds 
for funerals, — the bugle is used for everything 
here. I went to the service to-day, — all soldiers 
but myself; one played on the melodeon, and 
most of the others sang the hymns. Everything 
was orderly and solemn. A woman from Berks. 
Co., Penn., who stays in the basement, unlet- 
tered, ignorant, and itnused to travelling, with a 
clay pipe in her hand, sat on the back stairs of 
the boarding-house to-night, and drew around 
her a larger audience than any other woman in 
the house could have done, for she has to-day 
had an interview with Abraham Lincoln, and we 
all drew around her to hear her tell it in her 
peculiar way. She told the President that her 
husband, a cripple, had died since the enlistment 
of their three only sons, two of whom had been 
killed in battle, and the last one was sick in a 
hospital here, and she wanted him to come home 
as she thought she could cure him ; and she fin- 
ished her account of the interview by saying, ' I 
told the President I hadn't got no person else, 
and he laid his hand on my shoulder and said, 
" Mother, you shall have your boy." ' " 

" Sept. 20. We have a new ward-master to- 
day. I go home this week, but I have a pleasant 
surprise for all in this room and the ward above. 
I have received a letter from one who has ever 
been the Lady Bountiful of Bedford, Miss C. M. 
Fitch, enclosing $5 each from herself, Mrs. Jenks, 
and Miss Rand for comforts for the sick here. 
Have been to every bed and got the list of their 
wants. One wishes a pair of new socks, the 
others something to eat, peaches mostly, a few 
desire apples, pears, grapes, or melons, while 
one wants currant jelly. I shall show my list 
to Dr. Ruffin, and, if he api^roves, these poor 
sich men shall be gratified." 

" Sept. 21. Have been busy all day, and am 
hapi^ily tired to-night. Have taken a peck 
basket three times full from the market oppo- 



BEDFORD. 



77 



site, and distributed the luxuries provided by 
Miss Fitch. The nurses carried the basket up 
the stairs for me. Handed some lemons to the 
ex-ward-master ; he has a cot now. ' South Car- 
olina ' would not take any fruit, but as he wished 
to write some letters, did take three postage 
stamps; if he gets paid before I leave, insists 
upon returning them. Mrs. Gleason has kindly 
consented to use the money left for the same 
purpose." 

After I went home, Mr. Sage remained in this 
hospital until his time was nearly out, when he 
was so earnest to return with his regiment that 
his doctor reluctantly consented to send him to 
them at Fort Delaware. For this purjiose he 
was sent to Camp Distribution, near Alexandria, 
-■ not a place for the sick, only used for troops 
passing to and from the fromt, a terrible place, 
full of vermin, and often called '• Camp Hell " by 
the soldiers. The train had just left for Fort 
Delaware, and here he had to remain over a 
week, for an officer was not furnished for one 
soldier. Here he grew worse, the food was un- 
fit for a well person, — one thing was raw pork, 
which he thoiaght seemed to be pickled in vine- 
gar. When he could eat, he lived on crackers 
and milk bought from a sutler, until his pocket- 
book was stolen. 

He begged or borrowed a stamp and envelope 
from a sutler, and wrote to me on the white edge 
of a strip of newspaper, asking me to send him 
twenty-five cents — and no more — every morn- 
ing till "countermanded." This I did for a week, 
when hoping to return with the others he wished 
no more to be sent. Xot hearing for some days 
from him, I felt sure he would come with the 
others. If I remember aright, they came Satur- 
day, October 22. I went up street to see them 
come to the Post Office, two stage loads, with 
their guns out of the windows and on top of the 
eoaclies, glistening in the afternoon sun. 

I remember how happy and exultant I felt ! 
I was doomed to disappointment. My soldier 
was not with them ! No one had seen him, or 
could tell me anything of him ; as one wrote 
afterward, it was " all the good times, and I not 
in them." 

It had been arranged for the returned soldiers 
to attend church the next day in a body, special 
thanksgiving services having been prepared for 
the occasion by Eev. William J. Batt. 

I had my bonnet and church clothing laid out 
in readiness. I sadly went to mj- lonely home 
and put them out of sight, feeling like the child- 
less mother in Elizabeth Barrett Browning's 
poem, " After news from Gseta, 1861." 



" Ah, ring your bells low, 
And burn your lights faintly! 

If in keeping the feast, 
Ton want a great song for yoiu- Italy free. 

Let none look on me! " 

Like the widow of the pine cottage in the 
National Reader I used to read from at school, 
I sat late that night by the glowing coals, but 
unlike her, for I had not her strong faith. She 
was in a story, / was in real life, a worn-out, 
troubled woman ; and my thought was, " I can- 
not have it so." I heard steps, and my name 
faintly sj^oken ! I knew the voice, and rushed 
to tlie door. There, on the doorstep, exhausted 
with the long ride from Lexington, sat a nonde- 
script individual, with a red silk handkerchief 
drawn closely over his army cap, a white one 
around liis neck, and a long, large dressing-gown 
of strikingly wide purple and yellow stripes over 
his blouse. No one, who knew the man, will 
doubt the sincerity of his words as I opened the 
door, "Thank God, I've got liome at last ! " 

I never knew him to willingly allude to his 
army experience, in the years of suffering in 
which he remained to guide and comfort and 
bless his family. And the dearest place to him 
was ever his home. 

Very truly yours, 

Martha Hill Sage. 




BUNYAN'S COTTAGE. ELSTOW 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

The Mother Town of Bedford. 

[The author is liappy to give place to a chapter 
descriptive of Bedford, England, prepared at his request 
by Rev. Edward G. Porter of Lexington.] 

Bedford, the county seat of Bedfordshire, is 
situated in the heart of England, about fifty 
miles north of London, on the main line of the 
jMidland railway. Camden, who wrote three 
hundred j-ears ago, says Bedford is "more emi- 
nent for the pleasantness of its situation and 



78 



BEDFORD. 



anticj^uity than anything of bea\ity or stateli- 
ness." Agriculture has always been the chief 
occupation of the people of this district. The 
country is slightly undulating, well cultivated, 
and watered by the river Ouse, which winds 
" more maeandrons than Maeauder." Speaking 
of these serpentine windings, an old author ob- 
serves that the Ou.se runs a distance of eighty 
miles to reach a distance of eighteen, and then 
humorously exclaims, '■ Blame it not, if sensible 
of its sad condition, and presaging its fall into 
the foggy fens of the next county, it be loath to 
leave this pleasant place ; as who would not pro- 
long their own happiness ? " 

The Ouse is navigable from Bedford to the 
sea, flowing by St. Xeots, Huntington, St. Ives, 
Ely, and Lynn, and emjitying into the German 
Ocean at the Wash. Although rather narrow, 
like the Cam and the Isis, it affords excellent 
facilities for boating. 

The ancient history of Bedford naturally falls 
into four distinct periods, — the British, the Ro- 
man, the Saxon, and the Norman.' Of the first 
we know but little. The site was occupied by 
a sturdy people called Cassii, whose chief, Cas- 
sivellanus, commanded the united forces of all 
the tribes to oppose the invasion of Julius 
Csesar (B. C. 54). Whether the Roman town 
of Lactodorum stood here has been questioned, 
but from all accounts it could not have been far 
away. Two of the great Roman roads, Watling 
Street and Icknield Way, ran through this coun- 
ty, crossing each other at Dunstable. A pitched 
battle was fought near Bedford, in 572, between 
Cuthwolf, the Saxon, and the Britons, in Avhicli 
the latter were defeated. The territory was 
attached to the kingdom of Mercia till 827, 
when it became subject to the West Saxons, 
under Egbert. 

The name of Bedford can be traced back to 
this period, when there was a military station 
on the river here called Bedicanford, shortened 
into Bed-an-ford, meaning the Fortress-on-the- 
ford. Offa, king of ilercia, chose this for his 
burial place, and his remains were deposited in 
a small chapel on the river's brink, which was 
afterward undermined and swept away by a 
fl.ood. This incident has suggested to some 
antiquaries the possibility of another deriva- 
tion. Bede is the Saxon word for prayer, or 
praying-place. Hence Bedford may mean the 
prayer-ford, or the chapel-at-the-ford. "Bede- 
houses" were not uncommon then, and when 
built near a ford, or bridge, they would suggest 
prayer for a safe passage. The earliest record 
extant of the present orthography is found in a 
Latin manuscript of the time of Edward III. 



(1345), where the inhabitants of Bedford are 
spoken of as "Homines Bedfordiae." 

The town was plundered by the Danes in the 
reign of Edward the Elder, who rebuilt it, and 
joined it to the little village of Mikesgate, on 
the opposite bank of the river. Since then both 
places have borne the name of Bedford. 

After the Xorman conquest a strong castle 
was built here by Payn Beauchami), third Baron 
of Bedford. It was a frowning, massive struc- 
ture, with enormous walls and earthworks, and 
its important situation involved it for a long 
time in many of the internal struggles of Eng- 
land. The haughty lords of the keep exercised 
their feudal powers with little regard to the 
inhal:)itants, whom they regarded only as their 
retainers. Encased in armor, they sallied forth 
from their stronghold in search of booty, roam- 
ing at will, and compelling tribute at the edge, 
of the sword. During -the civil war between 
King Stephen and ^Matilda, Bedford Castle was 
the scene of many fierce conflicts. 

The first municipal charter was granted to 
Bedford in 1166, subject to a payment of forty 
pounds a year as a fee-farm rent to the crown. 
It became a representative borough in the reign 
of Edward I., the suffrage being limited to free- 
men and liouseholders not receiving alms. 

William de Beauchamp, Lord of Bedford, was 
one of the insurgent barons against King John 
in support of the struggle for Jloffiia Chavta. 
In consequence his castle was besieged by the 
royalists, and compelled to capitulate. But the 
greatest event in its history was the memorable 
siege conducted by Henry III. in person. The 
chroniclers describe the siege-engines used on 
this occasion, some for hurling stones, some for 
making breaches in the wall; others were swung 
high in the air, for scouts and cross-bowmen. 
Miners sapped the walls, protected by the "cat." 
Slingers also did effective service. After a siege 
of sixty days, the castle was taken by assault, 
and completely dismantled. The stones were 
afterward used in the construction of iSTewnham 
Abbey, Caldwell Priory, St. Paul's, and other 
Bedford churches. The picturesque old bridge 
and gate-houses, which stood until 1765, were 
built of the same materials. No remains of the 
old fortress are visible, but the circuit can be 
traced in the rear of the Swan Inn. The keep 
is now a bowling-green. 

The ai-ms of the corporation of Bedford rep- 
resent a castle overshadowed by the imperial 
Roman eagle, with spread wings, suggesting two 
important periods in the history of the town. 

The loss of the castle seems to have been a 
gain to Bedford. Its citizens were now free to 



BEDFORD. 



79 



pursue the peaceful occupations of life, to de- 
velop the rich agricultural lands in the vicinity, 
and to encourage commercial relations, especially 
witli the other towns on the river. 

A mercantile guild and other privileges and 
immunities were granted by different monarchs. 
In tlie charter of Richard II. tlio corporation is 
styled "The mayor, bailiff, and burgesses." 

The barony of Bedford was given to the fa- 
mous warrior, John Plantagenet (third sou of 
Henry IV.), called by Shakespere "Prince John 
of Lancaster," who won his spurs at Shrewsbury 
(110.3). He was created Duke of Bedford, and 
became Regent of France for the English. With 
the aid of the Dukes of Burgundy and Brittany, 
he waged war against France, and was baffled 
only by the interposition of Joan of Arc. He 
succeeded, however, in capturing the maiden, 
and was one of the principal agents in secur- 
ing her tragic death. 

In those days Bedfordshire was famous for 
the number and wealth of its religioiTs houses. 
After tlie Dissolution, the chief part of the mo- 
nastic property was bestowed upon the Russell 
family, with the Earldom of Bedford. In 1694 
the dukedom was restored by William III., in 
consideration of the services of the family in 
the struggle for civil and religious liberty. The 
title continues to the present time. 

Bedford has long been distinguished for its 
numerous charitable endowments. One of its 
most eminent sons was Sir William Harper, 
who became master of the ^Merchant Tailors' 
Companj-, and Lord Mayor of London in 1561, 
and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. He 
made a remarkable gift to his native town by 
a deed, dated 1566, conveying thirteen and one- 
quarter acres of land lying in Holborn, to pro- 
vide a free education for the youth of Bedford 
of both sexes and every grade. • He had bought 
the land for .€180, and it was then yielding £40 
a year. Eighteen years later it brought a rental, 
on a long lease, of £150 a year. ^lany streets 
were laid out, and new houses built upon the 
land, so that it rapidly advanced in value, pro- 
ducing in the year 1800 £4,000, and at the pres- 
ent time the handsome revenue of £15,000 a 
yearl Some of the streets on Sir William's 
land are among the best known in London, as 
Bedford Street, Bedford Row, Bedford Court, 
Prince's Street, Queen Street, Boswell Court, 
Harper Street, Theobald's Road, and Gray's Inn 
Passage. The objects to which this large in- 
come is given have been ver}^ properly extended 
by Parliament. It is administered by a board 
of eighteen trustees, in a rotation of six each 
year. Sir William's first wife was "Dame Alice," 



for whom a street in Bedford was named. In 
the chancel of St. Paul's, the mother church of 
Bedford, is an altar tomb, witli brass figures of 
Sir William and his second wife, both standing 
witli folded hands. He has on a suit of armor, 
partly covered by an aldermanie gown. The 
inscription is as follows: — 

Obiit 27? die February 157o. A no actatis suae 77° 
Here luider lieth buried the body of Sir William Harjier, 

Knight, Allderman and late Lorde JIaior of the citie 

of London withe dame Margarett his last wife, W?. 
Sir William was borne in this towne of Bedford & liere 

fended & gave lande for tlie mayntenance of a gramer 

sclioole. 

The most illustrious name connected with 
Bedford is that of John Bunyan, who was born 
in 1628 in the neighboring village of Elstow, 
over the river, on the road to Luton. The old 
"moot-house" still stands on the spacious vil- 
lage green, — a quaint structure of brick and 
oak, once the court house of the manor, and 
used in Bunyan's time for romps and dances, 
and now for public meetings, fairs, and Sunday- 
schools. On the green may also be seen the 
stone stump of the ancient market-cross, uear 
which the sheep are wont to graze and children 
to play. 

The Elstow church is a well-preserved monu- 
ment of the Norman and early English periods. 
It has two memorial windows to Bunyan, illus- 
trating scenes from his "Pilgrim's Progress " and 
"Holy War." The massive tower, like some oth- 
ers in England, is a detached campanile, twenty- 
two feet from tlie church, in the perpendicular 
style, heavily buttressed at the four corners, 
and contains a chime of bells and a large village 
clock. Here Bunyan practiced the art of bell- 
ringing. The English had become at tliat time 
enthusiastic lovers of the melody produced by' a 
ring of bells. It was in consequence of their 
invention of "changes" that England became 
known as "the ringing island." Bedford was 
foremost in this national taste. 

Bunyan was brought up as a white-smith, or 
brazier, a mender of pots and kettles. He had 
a forge and workshop at Elstow, and went out 
as a journeyman "tinker." He was largely pos- 
sessed of the Puritan spirit, and at the age of 
sixteen we find him enlisted in the army, dur- 
ing the decisive campaign of 1645. After his 
return he married the daughter of a worthy 
family, and began to relinquish his favorite 
amusements. His conscience, he tells us, was 
suddenly aroused one Sunday afternoon as he 
was playing "tip cat" on the village green. 
His profound experience and fervent devotional 



80 



BEDFORD. 



spirit gave liim great influence with tlie people. 
He moved into Bedford, and became a deacon 
of tlie non-confovmist bodj' tliere. He was soon 
set apart as a preacher, and his fame spread rap- 
idly, causing his enemies to complain, "because 
he strove to mend souls as well as kettles." 
After the Restoration he gave such offence to 
the authorities that he was imprisoned in the 
county jail, an old structure that stood in High 
Street, on the now vacant lot, used as a market 
place, at the corner of Silver Street. This jail 
was taken down in 1801. Here he was confined 
for twelve years, and again, three years later, 
for a period of six months, during which time, 
it is thought, he wrote his immortal allegory.* 
His indictment charges him with the crime of 
"devilishly and perniciously abstaining from 
coming to. church to hear divine service, and for 
being a common upholder of several unlawful 
meetings and conventicles, to the great disturb- 
ance and distraction of the good subjects of the 
kingdom, contrary to the laws of our sovereign 
lord the King." 

The only books Buuj-an had in jail were the 
Bible and Foxe's " Book of Martyrs." After his 
release he often went to Loudon to preach, and 
was urged to remain there, but he never con- 
sented to remove his residence from Bedford, to 
which he was sincerely attached. He lived in 
a small, one-story cottage, on the east side of 
the town, in the parish of St. Cuthbert. His 
earlier home, after his marriage, is still stand- 
ing on the Elstow road. The i^lace of worship 
which bears his name is in Mill Lane, on the 
site of the one in which he preached. It is a 
plain brick edifice, rebuilt in 1771, with a small 
porch in front and a vestry behind. An inscrip- 
tion states that Bunyan was minister here thirty- 
two j'ears, including the period of his impris- 
onment. In 1876 a fine bronze door, in two 
sections, with ten scenes from "Pilgrim's Prog- 
ress," in relief, was given by the Duke of Bed- 
ford. Dr. Brown, Bunyan's best biographer, 
and the present Congregational minister here, 
has several interesting relics of the great au- 
thor, for example, his will, and chair; his cab- 
inet, staff, and jug ; the heavy doors of the 

* The popixlar tradition that Bunyan was incarcerated in the 
t07rn jail on the old bridge (removed in 1765) does not seem to be 
well established. Tliat "was a mere " lock-np," fourteen feet 
square, and could not have contained as many prisoners as Bun- 
yan had for companions. Moreover the warrant for his release 
siieaks of him as " a prisoner in the common gaol for our county 
of Bedford. Dr. Brown concedes this, but argues that, when 
imprisoned for the eecoml time, the "dreamer " may have been 
put into the corporation jail on the bridge, and there he may 
have written his wonderful dream. History furnishes many 
examples of an apparent fact, sustained by documents, contra- 
dicting a widely accepted and tenacious tradition. 



county jail, and versions of "Pilgrim's Prog- 
ress " in nearly eighty different languages ! 
With the exception of the Bible, no book in 
the English tongue has passed through so many 
editions as this. The Bedford Literary and Sci- 
entific Institute, in Harper Street, has Bunyan's 
copy of Foxe's " Book of Martyrs " (ed. 1641), 
with his autograph and annotations. Bunj^an 
died in London, in 1688, and was buried in Bun- 
hill Fields. Many Puritans afterward begged 
the privilege of being buried as near his grave 
as possible. 

One of the chief objects of interest in Bedford 
is the fine bronze statue of Bunyan, by Boehm, 
erected on St. Peter's Green, at the upper end 
of High Street. The face is modelled after the 
well-known portrait by Robert White in the 
British jMuseum. It is a commanding figure, in 
the Puritan dress, with the open Bible in hand. 
On the pedestal is a relief representing the con- 
flict of Christian with Apollyon, under which is 
the inscription: — 

PKESENTED TO THE 

BOROUGH OF BEDFORD 

BY 

HASTINGS IX DUKE OF BEDFORD 

JUNE 10, 1874, 

IN THE MATOKALTY 
OF 

GEORGE HURST ESQ. 

John Howard, the philanthropist, lived at 
Cardington, near Bedford. He was sheriff for 
the couutj", and for many years an active mem- 
ber of the Bunyan church. The Moravians, who 
settled here in 1745, have maintained their or- 
ganization with characteristic zeal. 

There are few towns in any country so well 
provided with educational and charitable insti- 
tutions as Bedford. The grammar school in 
Harper Street has six hundred and fifty stu- 
dents, and is considered one of the leading pub- 
lic schools of England. It has eight " exhibi- 
tions" of seventy pounds each per annum at 
Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin. Over the en- 
trance to the building is a statue of the founder, 
Sir William Harper, in civic robes. Near by is 
the modern school, so called, with five hundred 
and fifty pupils. There are also a high and a 
modern school for girls, with ample equipments, 
and a green-coat school. 

Among the charities should be mentioned the 
dowry of twenty pounds a year to each of forty 
poor maidens of good character between the 
ages of eighteen and fifty. Those who are dis- 
apjjointed are entitled to the preference at the 



BEDFORD. 



81 



next apportionment. The condition is that they 
are to many within two months, and the money 
is paid on the wedding day. 

A widow's pension of ten shillings and six- 
pence is paid out regularly to a certain number 
of applicants. The Harper Street almshouses 
are famous. They number forty-six, and have 
four rooms each, two below and two above. 
Each house has a garden forty feet long. Seven 
shillings a week are given to each inmate, be- 
sides two pounds a year for clothing. There are 
many other almshouses, both old and new. Per- 
haps there are too many for the best interests of 
the people. It is said that in proportion to its 
size Bedford lias more public endowments than 
any other place in the kingdom. 

The municipal government is vested in a 
mayor, elected annually, a recorder and deputy, 
six aldermen, two bailiffs, and eighteen common 
councilmen. The bailiffs for the time being are 
lords of the manor. Two members are returned 
to Parliament. Most of the county business is 
carried on here, and there is a steady influx of 
visitors, who add not a little to its life and 
wealth. 

Among the public buildings nuiy be mentioned 
severalfine old churches, schools, the courts, the 
jail, the corn exchange, the hospital, the infirm- 
ary, the banks, the assembly hall, the public 
library, reading room and museum (founded in 
1830.) Bedford maintains an historical socie- 
ty, a home missionary society, branches of the 
Church missionary society, the Bible society (of 
which the Duke of Bedford is president), and the 
Religious Tract society; a ladies' clothing soci- 
ety, and a horticultural society, to say nothing 
of various literary, musical, and athletic clubs. 
The town has two weekly markets, seven an- 
nual fairs, an agricultural association, and regu- 
lar races which have always been jjopular. The 
water works and sanitary ai'rangements are par- 
ticularly good, the sewage being conveyed to 
a farm a mile away, and utilized at once for 
raising crops of cereals, grass, and vegeta- 
bles. 

The old staple, industry of the town is the 
manufacture of straw goods and thread lace; 
but in recent years the large agricultural imple- 
ment factory of the Howard company seems to 
have attracted more attention. 

The principal thoroughfare is High Street, 
which bisects the town, and leads to the bridge. 
The streets generally are narrow, like those of 
most old Euroi)ean towns, but they are well 
kept and proviiled with good sidewalks. The 
houses are mostlj- of brick, two or three stories 
high, very plain, but substantial and comforta- 



ble. Many new houses and villas are springing 
up of late on the West side.* 

The George Inn is the old hostelry of coach- 
ing days. It has a quaint stone figure of St. 
George and the Dragon in a conspicuous niche. 
Travellers to-day find "The Swan," near the 
river, an agreeable resort. The "Embankment 
Promenade," on a pleasant afternoon in summer, 
is the chief rendezvous for the citizens. It is 
tastefully laid out as a public park along the 
river whose placid waters reflect the five grace- 
ful arches of the bridge. Pleasure boats are 
passing continually, and the meadow landscape, 
with its abundant foliage and hawthorne hedges 
and grazing cattle, is a fine type of the rural 
beauty of old England, so dear to our fathers. 

The population of Bedford has increased dur- 
ing this century from four thousand to about 
twenty thousand. 

The most important estate in Bedfordshire is 
Woburn Abbey, the lordly seat of the Duke of 
Bedford, in the midst of a beautiful park well 
stocked with deer. 







THE EMBANKMENT PROMENADE, BEDFORD. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Burial Grounds and Epitaphs. 

[Inscriptions from liead-stones in tlie old Burial Ground, in 
an abbreviated form, with notes of explanation. Alphabetical 
order has been partially observed, rather than chronological, for 
the convenience of the reader.] 

The church yard, to the inhabitants of a rmal par- 
ish, is the place to wliicli, as tliey grow older, all tlaeir 
tlioughts and feelings turn. John Wilson. 

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, 
And all th.at beauty, all that wealth e'er gave. 

Await alike the inevitable hour; 
The paths of glory lead but to the grave. 

TuoMAS Gray. 

EuwAKD Steakns Abhott, son of Mr. Moses 
Abbott, Jr., and Jlrs. Alice, his wife, died Dec. 
18, 1798, aged 22 months. 

• Since the act of Parliament forthe improvement of the town 
of Bedford, thatched buiUlings are not allowed either to be con- 
structed or repaired. 



82 



BEDFORD. 



Benjamin Abbott, son of Moses and Alice 
Abbott, April 29, 1795, aged 1 year 3 months. 

Thi-ice of this cnp we drank our fill, 
WormwooJ and gall we taste it still ; 
Oh ! who can tell, that never felt, 
What parents feel for children's death ? 

In memory of l^enjamin Abbott, son of Mr. 
Moses and ^lis. ^lary, his wife, who died May 
21, 1793, in the 2Sth year of his age. 

Here lies entombed a pious youth, 

Not twenty-eight years old ; 
In prime of life cut down loy death, 

No more we him behold. 

Here lies buried the body of .Mr. Obed Abbott, 
who departed this life ilay the 11th, 1773, in ye 
77th year of his age. 

John Abbott, who died in ye army at Lake 
George, Kov. ye 27, 175G, aged 23 years. 

Here lies ye body of Mrs. Elizabeth Abbott, 
wife of Mr. Obed Abbott, who died INIay ye 29th, 
1752, in ye 59th year of her age. 

In memory of ^Irs. ]Mary Abbott, wife of 'Sir. 
Moses Abbott, who died Sept. 5, 1807, aged 66 
years. 

Hark! from the tomb a doleful sound, 

Mine ear attend the cry ; 
You living, all come view the groxtnd 
Where you must shortly lie. 

Sacred to the niomory of Capt. iloses Abbott, 
who died Nov. 22, 1809, aged 83 years. 

In memory of Mr. Moses Abbott, Junr., died 
Feb. 19, 1802, aged 40 years. 

Alas! alas! my husband dear, 

Early cut down and slain; 
But Christ is the believer's head, 

And lie shall live again. 

Mary Ann, wife of Lieut. Oliver Abbott, who 
died Dec. 26, 1825, aged 19. 

The Saviour calls, and I must go, 
And leave you here, my friends, below; 
But soon my God will call for thee, 
Prepare for death and follow me. 

^Ir. Abijah, son of John and Elizabeth Bacon, 
May 1, 1776, aged 22. 

Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth 
Bacon, who departed this life Aug. 26, 1749, in 
the (?) year of her age. 

John Bacon, son of John and Elizabeth Bacon, 
who died Aug. 30, 1749, aged 3 years. 

Elbridge Bacon, Aug. 31, 1848, aged 48. 

Emily Frances, daughter of Elbridge and 
Louisa Bacon, Dec. 31, 1838, aged 7 years. 

:Mrs. Ruth, wife of Reuben Bacon, Jr., July 
19, 1838, aged 24. 



Yet again we hope to meet thee, 

When the day of life has fled; 
Then in heaven with joy to greet thee. 

Where no farewell tears are shed. 

In memory of Mr. Octa Bacon, son of Thomp- 
son Bacon, and ^Nlrs. ^Martha, his wife, July 28, 
1811, aged 16 years 3 months. 

Thompson Bacon, Esq., Dec. 4, 1833, aged 73 

years. 

Not him does death itself alarm, 

On heaven his soul relies; 
With joy he views his Maker's love. 
And with composure dies. 

In memory of jNIrs. ^Martha, relict of Thomp- 
son Bacon, Esq., who died Feb. 13, 1847, aged 
84 years. 

Breget Bacon, daughter of Jonathan and Eliza- 
beth, April 20, 1731, aged 25. 

]Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Jonathan Bacon, Dec. 
16, 1738, aged 67 years. 

Jonathan Bacon, Jan. 12, 1754, aged 82 years. 

[He was son of Michael, proprietor of the mill on the 
Shawshine, had a share in the common lands of Biller- 
ica, was third layman in the foundation members of the 
church, assembled the first town meeting by order of 
the General Court, was one of the first selectmen, and a 
man of influence in town and church till death.] 

Reitben Bacon, son of John and Elizabeth 
Bacon, died ^lay 22, 1775, in the 18th j^ear of 
his age. 

[His young life was sacrificed at the opening of the 
Revolution.] 

In memory of John Bacon, June 7, 1833, aged 
80 years. 

Hannah, wife of John Bacon, Sept. 27, 1823, 
aged 70. 

Katherine Bacon, wife of Deacon Benjamin 
Bacon, July 7, 1791, aged 74 years. 

Sacred to the memory of Deacon Benjamin 
Bacon, Oct. 1, 1791, aged 78. 

Go, traveller, live to God. 

In memory of ilr. Elijah Bacon, Sept. 13, 
1788, aged 34 years. 

In memory of Mrs. Amittai Bacon, wife of 
Mr. Benjamin Bacon, Oct. 10, 1806, aged 48. 

Farewell, kind friends, a short farewell. 

Till we shall meet again above, 
In paradise, where pleasures dwell, 

And kindred souls rejoice in love. 

In memory of !Mr. Oliver Bacon, May ye 25, 
1794, aged 54. 

Forbear, my friends, to weep, 

Since death to me is gain ; 
Those Christians who in Jesus sleep 

Shall with the Lord remain. 



BEDFORD. 



83 



lu memory of ^Nlrs. Sarah, widow of Mr. Oliver 
Bacon, Jan. L'5, 1841, in her 94th year. 

[.She hail been a member of an orthodox chiu'ch seventy 
years.] 

Children of Mr. Oliver and Mrs. Sarah Bacon. 
Oliver, April 17, 1787, aged 11 years. Iza, Jnne 
G, 1787, aged 8 years. 

Two blooming youth cut down and fled 
To regions of the silent dead. 
There to remain beneath the ground 
Till the last triuup begins to soiuid. 

Here lyes buried ye body of Joseph Bacon, 
who departed this life November ye 29th, a.d. 
1747, iu ye C3d year of his age. 

lu memory of iMrs. Eebekah Bacon, relict of 
Mr. Joseph ]5acon, Aug. 24, 1778, aged 91 years 
1 month IG days. 

Jesse Bacon, son of Mr. John and Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Bacon, Aug. 26, 1749, aged 19 days. Eliza- 
beth, their daughter, Feb. 15, 1754, in ye 4th 
year of her age ; also still-born son lies at her 
right hand. 

Here lyes buried the body of Mr. John Bacon, 
•who departed this life ISIay ye 26, 17G0, in j-e 
44th year of his age. 

In memory of Job Lane Bacon, son of Mr. 
Benjamin and JNIrs. ]\Iartha Bacon, Sept. 9, 1805, 
aged 13 months 22 days. 

Warren, son of Mr. Jonathan and Mrs. Abigail 
Bacon, Jan, 28, 1822, aged G years and 15 days. 

Emma C, daughter of Mr. Clark and Mrs. 
Emma C. Bacon, Aug. IG, 1833, aged 2 mouths 
and 4 days. 

In memory of Sarah Bacon, daughter of Ben- 
jamin, Jr., and Martha, his wife, Sept. 17, 1799, 
aged 5 j-ears. 

Elizabeth, wife of Freeborn Balch of Beverly, 
died Jan. 31, 1736 | 7. 

Lucy Billings, Oct. 28, 1838, aged G4 years. 

Thomas Bowes, son of Eev. Nicholas and Mrs. 
Lucy Bowes, died May ye 21st, 1750, aged 2 
years 11 months. 

[He was choked to death with a bean.] 

Here lies the body of Mary Bowman, daughter 
of Jlr. Francis Bowman and Mrs. Sarah, his wife, 
who died Nov. 20, 17G2. 

We children of a father dear 
Erected have these grave-stones here. 

In memory of Mr. Joseph Brown, who died 
Dec. 25, 1762, aged 30 years. 

Life is short and death is sure. 
Sin the cause and Christ the cure. 

Jn. Db. Hb. & Sb. 

[Initials stand for Joseph, Desire, Hannah, and Sub- 
mit Brown.] 



In memory of John Brown, son of Nathaniel 
and Euth Brown, Sept. 12, 1803, aged 5 years. 

Sleep on, sweet babe, and take thy rest : 
God called thee home when he thought best. 

Sarah C., wife of John Cutting, March 3, 1848, 
aged 29. 

Ellen, daughter of James and Hannah Clark, 
Jan. 26, 1833, aged 6 months. 

Mr. Stephen Davis, " who rested from his labor 
at his labor," July 11, 1738, aged 53 years. 

[On that day l.e arose early, and went to his work, 
and not returning to his breakfast, search was made for 
him ; when found, he was lying dead by a few short 
swaths of grass which he had mown in the meadow that 
borders on a branch of Shawshine Brook, near the line 
of the tc)wn of Lincoln. The spot is designated by a 
plain stone in the field. lie was a fomider of the church, 
and one of the first constables.] 

Paul Davis, son of Josiah and Elizabeth, Jan. 
9, 1763, aged 17 years. 

[He died in the French and Indian War.] 

Mr. Daniel Davis, Feb. 10, 1740, aged 67 years. 

[He was a petitioner for the new town, a foimder of 
the church, and one of the first selectmen.] 

Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Josiah Davis, Jan. 
15, 1763, aged 41 j-ears. 

Dea. Stephen Davis, July 22, 1787, aged 71 
years. Elizabeth, his wife, 1789, aged 71 years. 

[Deacon Stephen was son of Stephen, was deacon of 
the church from 1700 till death, was a very skilful land 
surveyor, and a very useful and highly respected citi-, 
zen.] 

Mrs. Sarah, wife of Dea. Thaddeus Davis, 
March 26, 1807, aged 47. 

Sacred to the memory of Lieut. Eleazer Davis, 
March 13, 1819, aged 85 years. 

Mrs. Eebekah, his wife. 

]\rartha J., daughter of Mr. Eleazer and Mrs. 
Alartha Davis, Feb. 10, 1817, in the 9th year of 
her age. 

Here lyes the body of Mrs. Mary Davis, wife 
of Mr. Eleazer Davis, who departed this life 
Jan. ye 28, a.d. 1763, aged 22 years 10 months 
2 days. (Daughter of Mr. Josiah and Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Davis.) 

Mr. Joshua Davis, died April 29, 1746, aged 31. 

Here lies ye body of Hannah Davis, daughter 
of Mr. Daniel and jMrs. Jlary Davis, April ye 11, 
1737, aged 14 years 2 months and 21 days. 

IMrs. Hanna, wife of Silas Dudley, Aug. 1, 
1828, aged 27. 

Stop, dear friends, stop and think. 

Before you further go ; 
Will you sport upon the brink 

Of everlasting woe ? 



84 



BEDFOED. 



Sacred to the uiemoiy of Supply Dean, May 25, 
1826, aged 26. 

Lieut. Joseph French, Nov. 26th, 1732, aged 83. 

[His name heads the list of petitioners, May 1, 1728, 
"for the erection of a new town to be called Bedford," 
and also stands at the head of the laymen who founded 
the church.] 

Mr. Samuel French, Jan. 28, 1738, aged about 
52 years. 

Doc. John Fassett, Jan. 30th, 1736, aged 66 
years. 

[He was the first resident physician in the town.] 

Capt. Josiah Fassett, Feb. 18, 1740, aged 53 
years. 

Galley Fassett, daughter of ilr. Joseph and 
Mrs. Dorothy Fassett, Aug. 22, 1775, aged 17 
yeai-s. 

In memory of Capt. Joseph Fitch, Feb. ye 7, 
1769, aged 67. 

Here lies the body of jMrs. Sarah Fitch, wife 
to Mr. Joseph Fitch, Jan. 22, a.d. 1750, in ye 
40th year of her age. 

Erected in memory of Mr. John Fitch, May 31, 
1820, aged 81. 

Sacred to the memory of Mr. Matthew Fitch, 
Aug. 3, A.D, 1811, aged 66. 

Erected in memory of Capt. Moses Fitch, 
Aug. 1, 1821, aged 37. 

Sacred to the memory of Dea. Moses Fitch 
and Mrs. Eachel, his wife. Dea. Moses Fitch 
died Oct. 12, 182.5, in the 71st year of his age. 
Mrs. Eachel Fitch, died May 23, 1817, in the 
59th year of her age. 

[He was wotmded in the battle of Wliite Plains, N.T.] 

Erected in memory of Mrs. Sally Fitch, wife 
of Mr. Olford Fitch, Aug. 23, 1820, aged 23. 

Death with his dart has pierced my heart 

When I was iu my prime ; 
When this yon see grieve not for me, 

'Twas God's appointed time. 

In memory of Jonathan Simonds Fitch, son 
of Mr. David and Mrs. Olive Fitch, Jan. 25, 
1819, aged 4 years. 

Isaac, son of Mr. David and Mrs. Olive Fitch, 
Feb. 13, 1825, aged 1 month 21 days. 

Judge not God by feeble sense, 

But trust him for his grace. 
Behind a frowning providence 

He has a smiling face. 

In memory of Mrs. Hannah Fitch, wife of Mr. 
David Fitch, Jr., Dec. 22, 180.5, aged 26 years 
10 months 16 days. 

Shall mortal man complain of Him who is most just, 
Wlien he removes our nearest friends, 
And lays them in the dust ? 



Here lies ye body of Mr. Isaac Fitch, son of 
Mr. Benjamin and Mrs. Miriam Fitch, who de- 
parted this life July the 24th, 1773, in ye 22d 
year of his age. 

In memory of Isaac Fitch, son of Mr. David 
and i\Irs. ]\Iary Fitch, Feb. ye 6th, 1797, aged 15 
years and 21 days. 

The Lord reigns in the heavens. 

And angels him adore ; 
He sends death to take young mortals off 

At his appointed hour. 

Mr. David Fitch, July 27, 1813, aged 70. 

Mrs. Mary, wife of Mr. David Fitch, Sept. 19, 
1829, aged 82 years. 

Sacred to the memory of Abel Fitch, Oct. 16, 
1839, aged 30. Henry Brainard, son of Abel 
and 2^ancy Fitch, July, 1839, aged 3 months. 

In memory of Lydia Fitch, March 11, 1759, 
aged 14 years. Nathan Fitch, May 13, 1755, in 
ye 7th year of his age. (Children of Mr. Benjar 
min and ^Irs. ]\Iiriam Fitch.) 

In memory of Mr. Abner Foster, son of Mr. 
Noah and Mrs. Gracy Foster, March 6, 1828, 
aged 24 years. 

Our friend is dead and gone to rest; 

He's left that pleasing hope behind. 
That he is numbered with the just. 

And drinks with angels joys refined. 

Hannah P., wife of Dr. Bela Gardner, Jan. 20, 
1844, aged 40 y^ars. 

Here, amid the scenes of her childhood's home, 
on the spot where her footsteps loved to linger, 
lie the mortal remains of Eebecca W. Gleason, 
wife of Benjamin Gleason, of Boston, and daugh- 
ter of William Maxwell, of Bedford, Dec. 10, 
1846, aged 63 years. 

Benjamin Gleason, Sept. 18, 1847, aged 70 
years. 

In memory of ]Mrs. Euth Gleason, wife of Mr. 
Jonas Gleason, April 3, 1793, aged 46'years and 
9 months. 

Here in this silent cave 

Lies our beloved friend, 
A wife so near and mother dear, 

To lie till time shall end. 
And at the call of God we trust 
She will arise among the just. 

In memory of Mrs. Hannah Goodridge, wife 
of Capt. William Goodridge, Jan 20, 1819, aged 
57 years. 

William Hartwell, Dec. 11, 1742, in ye 72d 
year of his age. 

[He was the second on the list of laymen who founded 
the church, and very active and benevolent in the forma- 
tion of the town.] 



BEDFORD. 



85 



-Mrs. Kuth (wid. of William Hartwell), Feb. 7, 
1752, in ye 77th year of her age. 

Mr. Stephen Hartwell, July 12, 1792, aged 76 
years. 

A span is all we can boast, 
An inch or two of time. 

Naomi S., wife of Joseph Hartwell, 3d, May 5, 
1840, aged 33 years. 

Afllictions sore long time I bore, 

Physicians. wore in vain, 
Till God did please and death did seize, 

To ease me of my pain. 

•Mr. Benjamin Hutchinson, ^Farch 13, 1780, 
aged SO years. Sarah, his wifc^, April 12, 1767, 
aged 66 years. 

John, son of Benjamin and Sarah Hutchinson, 
Sept. 1, 1749, aged 13 years. 

Mi. Benjamin Hutchinson, ^Farch 5, 1815, 
aged 91 years. 

Glory with all her lamps sliall burn, 
To watch the Christian's sleeping clay, 

Till the last trumpet rouse his urn 
To aid the triiuuphs of that day. 

Mrs. Rebecca, his wife, 'Sia.y 24, 1814, aged 91 
years. 

Miss Susannah, their daughter, June 4, 1815, 
aged 61 years. 

^lary Hayward, Jan. 29, 1865, aged 74 years. 

Castalio Hosmer, Oct. 29, 1869, aged 83 years. 

Ruth, his wife, Aug. 13, 1849, aged 67 years. 

Sarah Hosmer, obt. ^larch 18, 1820, aged 8 
years 3 months. 

'Tis done, her soul to heaven has fled, 
And she is numbered with the dead. 
Her sorrows, pain, and grief are o'er, 
And she from friends will part no more. 

:Mr. William Hartwell, May, 8, 1819, in the 
49th year of his age. 

Stop, friends, and drop a tear, 
Here lies a friend and partner dear; 
God called him to his home. 
And laid him silent in the tomb. 

In memory of ^Irs. ^lary, widow of William 
Hartwell, Jan. 4, 1854, aged 71. 

Weep not for her whose troubles now are past, 
Wbose day of sorrow, pain, and death is o'er. 

Whose spirit, freed from every bond at last, 

Has foimd its home where death can come no more. 

Mrs. Joanna, wife of Mr. William Hartwell, 
Oct. 30, 1808, aged 39. 

Te mourners, weep no more for me, 
For I am gone to eternity. 
My flesh shall rest beneath the groimd 
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound. 



In memory of !Mr. Caldwell F. Hindman, of 
Boston, Kov. 22, 1835, aged 31. 

[The first white stone erected in the yard.] 

Erected to the memory of Anna P. Hindman, 
widow of Caldwell F. Hindman, Dec. 3, 1872, 
aged 82 years 7 months. 

In memory of Mrs. Stisanna Hill, wife of Mr. 
Josiah Hill, Feb. 15, 1818, aged 50 years. 

The grave of all the saints he blessed, 

And softened every bed ; 
Wliere should the dying members rest 

But with the dying head ? 

Lucy Hill, daughter of Mr. Josiah and Mrs. 
Susanna Hill, Sept. 25, 1807, aged 5 years. 

. Lucy Hill, July 30, 1801, aged 7 months 19 
days. 

In memory of Miss Lydia Hartwell, daughter 
of Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Jemima Hartwell, Feb. 
13, 1788, aged 30 years. 

Friends nor physicians could not save 
My mortal body from the grave ; 
Nor can the grave confine me here 
When Christ the Son of God appear. 

Mr. Joseph Hartwell, July 7, 1792, aged 69. 

Present, useftil ; absent, wanted ; 
Lived desired, and died lamented. 

Mrs. Jemima, -svife of !Mr. Joseph Hartwell, 
Jtily 13, 1786, aged 56. 

The tears must fall, 
The tender sigh must rise, 

But hope, on virtue built, 
Shall reach the skies. 

Joseph, son of itr. Joseph and Mrs. Jemima 
Hartwell, Sept. 28, 175.'5, aged 1 year 4 mouths. 

Mr. John Hartwell, Xov. 16, a.d. 1746, in ye 
74th year of his age. 

Mrs. Deborah, wife to Mr. John Hartwell, 
who departed this life June 14, 1744, in the 
68th year of her age. 

Mrs. Desire, widow of Mr. Samuel THartwell, 
Aug. 30, 1824, aged 68 years 2 months. 

Mr. Samuel Hartwell, who died April 2, 1823, 
aged 67 years. 

The happy soul who conquers sin 
Shall everlasting glory win ; 
Shall see the end of care and pain. 
And with the King of Glory reign. 

Rebekah Heartwell, wife of Mr. Stephen 
Heartwell, Attg. 13, a.d. 1790, aged 79 years. 

Jesus, in thy sweet arms I trust, 

Now shall I safely sleep ; 
My body falling to the dust, 

I leave with thee to keep. 



86 



BEDFORD. 



Children and friends, all that pass hy, 
Stop, think are yon prejiared to die; 
If you have tasted heavenly love, 
Yon need not fear the lonely grave. 

Mrs. Abigail Hart-well, ]\Iay 30, 1733, in ye 
38tli year of her age. 

Josejili Hartwell, Aug. 3, 1840, aged 78 years. 
Elizabeth, widow of Joseph Hartwell, Aug. 16, 
1845, aged 78. 

Eachel, wife of Stejihen Haynes, Sept. 19, 
1847, aged 31. 

Horatio Nelson Haynes, Feb. 23, 1847, aged 27. 

John Isaac Jones, July 13, 1814, aged 18. 

Death is a deht to nature due ; 

I've paid that deht, and so must you. 

Timothy Jones, Esq., June 1, 1804, aged 55. 

The sweet rememhrance of the just 
Shall flourish when they sleep in dust. 

Mrs. Eebekah, wife of Timothy Jones, Esq., 
Aug. 13, 1807, aged 58. 

Friends and physicians could not save 
My mortal body from the grave. 

Susanna P. Jones, wife of Mr. Timothy Jones, 
June 26, 1820, aged 34. 

Timothy, son of Mr. Timothy and Mrs. Susanna 
Jones, Feb. 23, 1821, aged 14 3'ears. 

Like roses cropt before their bloom. 
He's carried to the silent tomb. 

Isaac, son of Capt. Timothy Jones and Mrs. 
Eebekah, his wife, Jan. ye 27, 1788, aged 6 years 
and 1 month. 

Mrs. Hannah, wife of Mr. Benjamin Kidder, 
July 5, 1752, aged 48 years. 

Mrs. Katherine,wife of Col. John Lane, April 1, 
1731, aged 39 years. 

[The oldest tombstone is believed to be that of Mrs. 
Katherine Lane. She was daughter of Samuel Whiting, 
of Billerica.] 

Col. John Lane, Sept. 23, 1763, aged 72. 

While I lye bm-ied deep in dust, 

My tlesh shall be thy care; 
These withering limbs with thee I trust, 
To raise them strong and fair. 
[He was grandson of Job, who had the Winthrop 
farm.] 

Mrs. Hannah, widow of Col. John Lane, April 
22, 1769, aged 73. 

Mr. Job Lane, Sept. 19, 1744, aged 77 years. 

[He was foimder of the second Lane fajuily in Bed- 
ford, and came to this locality about 1700.] 

Mrs. Mary, widow of Job Lane, Sept. 7, 1746. 
aged 65 years. 



Samuel, son of Job and Mary Lane, Nov. 25, 
1736. aged 21 years. 

Dea. Job Lane, Aug. 9, 1762, aged 73 years. 

[He was deacon of the church from Feb. 9, 173S, till 
death; he was a son of Col. John.] 

Martha, his wife, Sept. 14, 1740, aged 49 years. 
[First wife of Dea. Job.] 

Capt. James Lane, April 11, 1783, aged 87 
years. 

Death, steady to his purpose from ye womb. 
Pursues till we are driven to the tomb. 
O reader, wisely lay this thought to heart, 
And seek an interest in the better part; 
Then when you close in death your mortal eyes, 
Yom' soul may rise and reign above the skies. 

[Son of Col. John.] 

Eutli (Bowman), wife of Mr. John Lane, Aug. 
13, 1759, aged 35 years. 
Mr. John Lane, Dee. 7, 1789, aged 69 years. 

A span is all that we can boast. 

An inch or two of time; 
Man is but vanity and dust, 
In all his flower and prime. 
My days are spent, my race is rim ; 
Remember me, though dead and gone, 
Cease my beloved to complain, 
My sleeping dust shall rise again. 

]\Irs. Martha, first wife of Capt. James Lane, 
July 3, A.D. 1762, aged 64. 

Mrs. Chary (Wellington), second wife of Capt. 
James Lane, Dec. 16, 1764, aged 70 years. 

Mrs. Abigail (Farmer), third wife of Capt. 
James Lane, Feb. 25, 1773, aged 77 years. 

Jlrs. Abigail, late and fourth wife of Capt. 
James Lane, formerly the wife of Lieut. John 
INIerriam, Nov. 5, 1793, aged 83 years. 

David Lane, A.M., son of James and IMartha 
Lane, who deceased abroad, Sept. 29, a.d. 1750, 
in ye 23d year of his age. 

[Shattuck says he died in the French war, in 1753.] 

Ml-. Samuel Lane, Jan. 26, 1780, aged 65 years. 

Simple manners, a charitable temper. Industry and 
uprightness were adorned by a Christian profession and 
practice, and inspired an humble hope of a happy immor- 
tality. 

The memory of the just is blessed. 

Eliab B. Lane, Jan. 9, 1853, aged 73 years. 
Hear instruction and be wise. 

Anna, wife of Eliab B. Lane, May 30, 1844, 
aged 67. 

Now, therefore, hearken mito me, O ye children ; 
For blessed are they that keep my ways. 



BEDFORD. 



87 



Mr. Luke Lane, Aug. 27, 1801, aged 33. 
Luke Lane, Feb. 15, 1850, aged 58. 
Mr. James Lane, Oct. 20, 1836, aged 83. 
Mrs. ^lolly, relict of Mr. James Lane, Feb. 16, 
1848, aged 96 years and 8 months. 

Mr. James Lane, Jan. 4, 1799, aged 73. 
Mr. Solomon Lane, Feb. 1, 1837, aged SO. 

Ah ! warm affection cannot save 

From pain and siclcness and tlic grave; 

But power divine our soul sliall raise, 
In endless life God"s love to praise. 

Mrs. Sarah, wife of INIr. Solomon Lane, Aug. 
13, 1825, aged 69. 

Draw near, my t'lii'iuls. and take a lUouglit, 
How soon the grave must be your lot; 
Make sure of Christ while life remain. 
Anil death shall be your eternal gain. 

Mr. Jpsiah S. Lane, Scjit. 21, 1815, aged 28 
years. 

Josiali S., only child of Mr. Josiah and Mrs. 
Amitia Lane, Sept. 22, 1815, aged 21 months. 

They've fought the fight, their race is run. 
Their joys in heaven are now begim ; 
Their tears are gone, their sorrows flee. 
No more alllicted now like me. 

Miss Sally Lane, Xov. 7, 1854, aged 65. 
Mrs. Hannah, wife of Mi-. Samuel Lane, died 
Sept. 29, 1796, aged 57 years. 

Ketire, my friends, dry up your tears, 
Here I must lie till Christ appears. 

Solomon Lane, March 23, 1812, aged 56 years. 

Mv. Timothy Lane, Dec. 3. 1793, aged 72 years. 

Mrs. Lj'dia, relict of Mr. Timothy Lane, Aug. 
31, 1801, aged 72 years. 

Mr. Isaac Lane, Nov. 24, 1803, aged 37 years. 

Mr. Job. son of Mr. David and Mrs. Molly 
Lane, Nov. 15, 1814, aged 26 years. 

Mrs. Molly, wife of Mr. David Lane, Dec. 12, 
1820, aged 50 years 6 months. 



Farewell, my friends, I sleep in dust, 
ill the last trump awakes the just ; 
Therefore retire, and cease your tears, 
nare to meet when Christ acDCars. 



Tilli 



inereiore reiue, auu cease yuiu lears, 
Prepare to meet when Christ apjiears. 

Mr. David Lane, Sept. 10, 1842, aged 83 years. 

Mrs. Phebe, wife of Mr. David Lane, July 8, 
1838, aged 65 years. 

David Lane, Jr., Jan. 19, 1853, aged 56 years. 

James Lane, Dec. 17, 1859, aged 60 years. 

Here lies ye body of Benjamin, son of Dea. 
Job and Mrs. Martha Lane, Jan. 25. 1754, in the 
25tli year of his age. 

Mr. Jonathan Lane, March 4, 1808, aged 44 
years. 



Roger Lane, first son of Mr. John and Mrs. 
Ruhamah Lane, Nov. 16, 1794, aged 16 months. 

Abner, son of Mr. John and Mrs. Ruhamah 
Lane, Aug. 9, 1826, aged 21 years. 

Gracy Foster, daughter of INIr. John and Mrs. 
Ruhamah Lane, Nov. IG, 1806, aged 30 years. 

Ui: John Lane, Feb. 22, 1808, aged 62 years. 

Mrs. Ruhamah, his wife, A})ril 30, 1817, aged 
63 years. 

Mrs. Ruth, wife of IMr. Samuel Lane, Oct. 21, 
1772, aged 32 years. 

Myra, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah Lane, 
May 2, 1801, aged 5 months. 

Rollin, son of Jonathan and Hannah Lane, 
Jan. 9, 1800, aged 4 years. 

Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah 
Lane, Jan. 15, 1800, aged 7 months. 

Josiah Lane, son of John and Sarah, March 5, 
1762. 

In memory of Galen, son of ]Mr. Eliab and Mrs. 
Anna Lane, Nov. 21, 1811. aged 7 months. 

Ruhamah, daughter of j\Ir. Jonathan and Mrs. 
Ruhamah Lane, April 10, 1817. 

Jonathan A., son of Mr. Jonathan and Mrs. 
Ruhamah Lane, Aug. 24, 1820. 

Three children of Mr. Solomon Lane : 

Josiali, April 8, 1787. 

Enoch, Oct. 11, 1799. 

Abigail French, July 17, 1800. 

Lieut. John Merriam, Sept. 20, 1767, aged 67 
years.' 

But Christ shall change my sinful dust, 
The grave shall rot off all my rust; 
This body of mine shall fashioned be 
Like to lus own in its degree. 

Mrs. Esther, amiable comfort of Lieut. Wil- 
liam IMerriam, jNIarch 17, 1785, aged 33 years 
9 months 8 daj'S. 

That face that none tmmoved could view 
Has lost the enchanting rosy hue; 
Dwelt faitli and wit in sweetness there. 
O view the change and drop a tear. 

Cajit. John !Moore (son of John ^foore), Sept. 
27, 1807, aged 78 years. 

Glory with all her lamps shall burn, 

To watch the Christian's sleeping clay, 
Till the last trumpet cause his urn 
To aid the triumph of the day. 
[He was captain of the militia of the town, was at 
Concord fight, and active diu'ing the Revolution.] 

Mary, first wife of Capt. John iVIoore, July 6, 
1797, aged 73 years. 

]Mary, second wife of Capt. John Moore, April 
2, 1806, aged 76 years. 

[She was the widow of James Lane, Jr., and formerly 
Mary Wellington.] 



88 



BEDFORD. 



Dea. jSTatlianiel ilerriam, Dec. 11, 1738, aged 
66 years. 

The memory of the just is blessed. 

[He was one of the first selectmen; he bequeathed 
five pounds to the church, of which he was a deacon 
from Aug. 4, 1730, till death.] 

Elizabeth, wife of Mr. John :Moore, :\Iareh 18, 
1732, aged 25 years. 

Mr. John Moore, Aug. 21, 1765, aged 58 years. 

[His death was occasioned by a fall from a load of 
hay when entering the barn.] 

Mrs. Elizabeth (Wheeler), second wife of John 
Moore, Feb. 2, 1745. 

The sin of Adam hath laid me low. 
For sin hatli wrought an overthrow; 
From dust I came, to dust I come. 
And now the dust's become my home; 
When Christ comes down with saints to reign, 
The dust me no more shall detain. 

Hugh Maxwell, March 19, 1759, aged 59 years. 

My body turned into dust. 

My dust it shall arise. 
In resurrection of the just, 
To sound Jeliovah's praise. 
[He came from Belfast, Ire. ; was killed by a fall from 
his liorse.] 

William jNIaxwell, ]May 10, 1832, aged 79 years. 

Mrs. Sarah, his wife, April 21, 1833, aged 76 
years. 

Rhoda ^Maxwell, born April 25, 1794, died Dec. 
8, 1875. 

Desire ]Mead, wife of Mr. Stephen Mead (Desire 
Bachelder), and former wife of Mr. Joseph Brown, 
Sept. 9, 1797, aged 59 years. 

Anna Mead, Jan. 19, 1818, aged 49. 

Eefrain, my friends, and di-y your tears, 
Here I must lay till Christ ajjpears. 

Stephen Mead, Jan. 30, 1808, aged 71. 

John Mead, Jan. 12, 1799, aged 22. 

Mrs. Amittai ]^euton, Aug. 29, 1756, aged 25 
years. 

Mr. Joseph Pulsifer, of Boston, June 3, 1815, 
aged 25 years. 

Eeader, if love of worth thy bosom warm, 
If virtue please thee, or if friendship charm. 
Upon this stone you'll drop a tear; 
Worth, virtue, friendship, all are buried here. 

Mr. Joseph Porter, July 13, 1770, aged 52 

years. 

Although I sleep in dust awhile, 

Beneath the barren clay, 
E're long I hope to rise and smile, 

To see my Saviour God. 

Sacred to the memory of Mr. Joseph Porter, 



son of !Mr. William and Mrs. Lucy Porter, June 
14, 1811, aged 21. 

Mrs. Anna Page, relict of ;\Ir. Thomas Page, 
July 10, 1810, aged 73 years. 

From scenes of woe with sorrow prest 
She's bid adieu, and gone to rest. 

William Page, Feb. 10, 1812, aged 74 years. 

[They were the founders of the Page fund.] 

Pattey, wife of William Page, April 14, 1809, 
aged 69. 

Thomas Page, July 31, 1809, aged 76. 
' Cornet John Page, Feb. 18, 1782, aged 78 
years. 

[Erected by C'yrus Page, in 1880.] 

Cornet Nathaniel Page, !March 2, 1755, aged 
76 j-ears. 

[He was son of Nathaniel, 1st.] 

]Mrs. Susanna (Lane, daughter of Col. John, 2d), 
his wife, Sept. 2, 1746, aged 63 years. 

Cornet Xatlianiel Page, April 6, 1779, aged 
76 years. 

Deatli from all death has set us free, 
And will our gain forever be; 
Deatli loosed the rusty chain of woe. 
To let the mournful cajitives go. 

[He was a Minute Man in 177-J, anil an energetic jsat- 
riot in the cause of freedom.] 

Mr. Ebenezer Page. June 9, 1784, aged 47 years. 

Dorothy Page, wife of INIr. Ebenezer Page, Feb. 
6, 1779, aged 41 years. 

March 26, 1754, Lucy Page, aged 2 years. 

March 28, 1754, Susanna Page, aged 3 years 2 
months 20 days. 

April 7, 1754, Job Page, aged 5 years 10 months 
7 days. 

Children of Mr. Christopher and Susanna Page. 

[A triple stone suggests the ravages of throat distem- 
per in this family of the town.] 

Widow Sarah Parker, formerly tlie wife of 
Mr. John Lane, March 5, 1814, aged 88 years. 

Vain world, farewell to you. 

Heaven is my native air; 
I bid my friends a short adieu. 

Impatient to be there. 

Pierce monument : 

George Pierce, Aug. 24, 1870, aged 42 years. 
George N. Pierce, March 24, 1848, aged 31 years. 
Augustus Pierce, Jlay 6, 1846, aged 30. 

Page monument : 

Nathaniel Page, Aug. 30, 1858, aged 83 years. 
Lydia, wife of Nathaniel Page, Jan. 24, 1852, 
aged 79 years. 



BEDFORD. 



89 



In memory of Benjamin Page, Jan. 13, 1848, 
aged 34. Two children of Benjamin and Mary 
C. Page. 

'My. Samnel Page, member of the junior class 
of Dartmonth College, X.H., Jan. 31^ 1839, aged 
22 yeai's. 

Nathaniel, son of ^Ir. Xatlianiel Page, Jr., and 
Mrs. Lucy Page, his wife, April 10, 1808, aged 
11 months. 

•Mr. Nathaniel Page, July 31, 1819, aged 77. 

Mrs. Sarah, wife of ^Ir. Nathaniel Page, Aug. 
22, 1834, aged 92. 

Isaac F. Page, Nov. 21, 1844, aged 39 years. 

Capt. John Page, June 29, ]848, aged 81 years. 

Estlier, wife of Capt. John Page, Dec. 21, 1852, 
aged 81 years. 

Mr. Christopher Page, son of Nathaniel, 2d, 
Nov. 11, 178G, aged 80 years. 

Jlrs. Susanna, relict of Mv. Christopher Page, 
July ye 20, 1792, in ye 83d year of her age. 

The sweet remembrance of the just 
Shall flourish when tliey sift-]) in dust. 
[She was formerly the widow of Benjamin Webber, of 
Medford, and daughter of WHiituiore.] 

In memory of Mrs. Lydia, wife of Capt. Chris- 
topher Page, Feb. 20, 1808, aged 64. 

Betsey B., wife of Silas W. Page, June 25, 1842, 
aged 37. 

John 11., Feb. 27, 1841, aged 18 months. 
Susanna, May 4, 1841, aged 4 years 6 months. 
Children of Betsey B. and Silas W. Page. 

Sacred to the memory of ]\Irs. Hannah, wife 
of Dr. Amariah Preston, Feb. 8. 1795, in the 26th 
year of her age. 

Hark! hear my dear Redeemer's voice, 

My soul must hence remove; 
Farewell to all tliose earthly joys, 

And haste away to realms above. 

In memory of Hannah, daughter of Dr. Ama- 
riah Preston, Aug. 8, 1810. aged 15 years. 

Dea. Israel Putnam, Nov. ye 12, 1700, aged 
62 years. 

[He was one of the first deacons, foundation member 
of tlie church, and gave the land for the burial ground.] 

In memory of Mr. Jonas Putnam, March 10, 
1818, aged 32. 

Death with his dart has pierced my heart 
When 1 was in my prime. 

Mr. Oliver Pollard, May 28, 1831, aged 94 years. 
:srrs. Oliver Pollard, Feb. 20, 1840, aged 91 years 
and 4 months. 

To them the solemn hour has come, 

.\nd life's short space is o'er; 
They both have readied their final home, 

Where they shall part no more. 



Mr. Matthew Pollard, Nov. 15, 1801, aged 52 
years. 

Stranger, as this spot you tread, 
And meditate upon the dead. 
Improve the moments as they fly, 
For all who live must shortly die. 

Mi-s. Eebeccah Quimby, July 8, 1820, aged 25 
years 5 months. 

All earthly scenes are quickly o'er, 

For transient is their date ; 
'Midst all our joys we oft deplore 

The cruel stroke of fate ; 
Bnt stop each fond parental tear, 

And each fraternal sigh, 
She's freed from all her troul)les here. 

To dwell with God on high. 

John Eeed, Esq., Nov. 20, 1805, aged 75 years. 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, 
That they may rest from their labors, and their works do 
follow them. 
[He was an influential man, a member of the Conti- 
nental Congress at Concord and Cambridge in 177.5, and 
took an active part in the war of the Revolution. His 
name appears on a family memorial erected in Shaw- 
shine Cemetery in 18'. in.] 

Jesse Robinson, Dec. 1, 1842, aged 76 years. 
Rebecca, wife of Jesse Robinson, Aug. 3, 1863, 
aged 86 years 6 months. 

Miss Mary Robinson, June 9, 183.3, aged 20 
years. 

Draw near, my friends, and take a thought, 
How soon the grave must be your lot ; 
Make sure of Christ while life remain, 
And death shall be ypur eternal gain. 

Miss ]\Iartha Robinson, Aug. 7, 1840, aged 21 

years. 

Stay, thou passing maiden, stay! 
Learn how earthly joys decay ! 
Here three lovely sisters sleep; 
Read their fate, and, reading, weep. 

Eliza Robinson, born Dec. 27, 1809, died Sept. 
16, 1871. 

Life to thee was but a burden, 
Sister, thou art gone to rest; 
Yes, we trust thou art in heaven. 
The jilaee awaiting all the blest. 

Mrs. Abi, wife of :\Ir. David Rice, Oct. 30, 1820, 
aged 31. 

Oliver Reed, Aug. 15, 1837, aged 81. 

Mary, second wife of Oliver Reed, May 31, 
1812, aged 32. 

Mrs. Betsey, wife of Mv. Oliver Reed, Jr., Oct. 
22, 1802, aged 45. 

Stop, passenger, as you pass by; 
As you are now, so once was I. 
As I am now, so you will be : 
Prepare for death, and follow me. 



90 



BEDFORD. 



Mrs. Abigail, wife of Capt. David Eeecl, Sept. 

I, 1803, aged 44 years. 

She is fied, the loveliest mind, 
Faith, .sweetness, -nit, together joined : 
D-nell faith and wit and sweetness there; 
Oh, view the change, and drop a tear ! 

Erected in memory of Mrs. Hanuali, wife of 
Capt. David Eeed, April 29, 1790, aged 39 yeai-s. 

IMartlia S., wife of Natliau 0. Reed, March 22, 
1841, aged 24 years. 

Eliot, daughter of John Reed, Esq., and ]\Irs. 
Euhamah (Brown), his wife, Aug. 24, 1780, in 
the 16th year of lier age. 

How imcertain this life '. How little did I expect to 
die so yoimg ! Dear youth, remember my sudden death ; 
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man 
Cometh. 

Grace Page, daughter of John Eeed, Esq., and 
Mrs. Ruhamah, his wife, Sept. 16, 1778, in the 
19th year of her age. 

From death's arrest no age is free, as beholders may 
see; and now, dear youth, brothers, sisters, and friends, 
all prepare to come, for sure yon must, and mingle ■\\ith 
me in the dust. 

]\Irs. Rtihamah (Brown) Reed, wife of John 
Eeed, Esq., Jan. 9, 1798, in the 68th year of her 
age. 

Roger Eeed, June 8, 1844, aged 82. 

Sarah, his wife, Feb. 8, 1849, aged 83. 

Oliver Reed, Sept. IS, 1811, in the 83d year of 
his age. 

Betsey, daughter of Mr. Reuben and Mrs. Mary 
Eeed, May 3, 1813, aged 3 years and 8 months. 

Amanda Reed, Sept. 15, 1846, aged 26. 

Melviua Reed, July 18, 1844, aged 21. 

Mrs. Sarah Randall, IMarch 2, 1821, aged 44 
years. 

Elijah Skelton, Jan. 30, 1852, aged 68. 

Remember that yoit, too, must die. 

Mrs. Sarah, wife Elijah Skelton, Dec. 31, 1873, 
aged 87 years 11 months 1 day. 

Preciotis in the sight of the Lord 
Is the death of his saints. 

[She had been gone from this town many years, but 
remembered the Church of Christ in her last will. 

Sarah, daughter of Elijah and Sarah Skelton, 
Feb. 4, 1852, aged 33 years. 

Edwin, son of Elijah and Sarah Skelton, April 

II, 1849, aged 28. In memory of five infant 
children of Elijah and Sarah Skelton. 

Mrs. Louisa, wife of IMr. Elias Skelton, July 2, 
1836, aged 24. 



Samuel, their son, Oct. 18, 1832, aged 4 mouths. 

A wife and cliild have gone to their rest, 
And why should the soul of the mom-ners be sad? 

Faith tells they have gone where the weaiy are blest. 
And the spirit of hope looks up and is glad. 

Mr. Solomon, son of Capt. Edward and Mrs. 
Lucy Stearns, INIay 18, 1775, aged 19 years. 

[He was at Concord fight, April 19, 1775, and in the 
camp at Cambridge, where he contracted the disease 
from which he died.] 

Mary Elizalieth, daughter of Elijah Stearns, 
Esq., and Elizabeth, his wife, Jitly 12, 1818, 
aged 11 years. 

"Lieut. Edward Stearns. May 18, 1798, aged 30 
years. 

God my Redeemer lives, and often from the skies 
Looks down and watches all my dust, 
Till he shall bid me rise. 

Capt. Edward Stearns, June ye 11, 1793, aged 
68 years. 

Here in this grave, this silent cave. 

Lies our beloved friend, 
A husband near, a father dear, 
To lie till time shall end. 
Then at the call of God he shall arise, no more to die, 
And, as we trtist, among the just spend an eternity. 

Mrs. Lucy, wife of Capt. Edward Stearns, Nov. 
28, 1802, aged 69 years. 

Here sleeps om- mother in the dust ; 
So we e'er'long, her children, mvist, 
"U'hen God sees fit to call us hence, 
To leave this world of flesh and sense. 

Here lies the bodies of two children of Capt. 
Edward Stearns and Jlrs. Lucy, his wife : 

Edward, May ye 24, 1768, in the 8th year of 
his age. 

Here lies bones of Edward Stearns. His sottl, I trust, 
rests in Christ's arms. Then he shall rise out of the 
ground. 

Lucy, May ye 20, 1768, in the 13th year of 

her age. 

The body of a lovely maid 
Lies bm-ied in her silent grave; 
And in it doth take qtiiet rest, 
As if of beds it were the best. 

Betsey D., relict of William Stearns, July 27, 
1844, aged 61 years. 

Betsey, wife of Noah Stearns, Sept. 17, 1842, 
aged 71. 

Mr. John Sprague, March 4, 1810, aged 51. 

John Sprague, Jr., eldest son of Mr. John and 
Mrs. Phebe Sprague, May 21, 1805, aged 16 years 
6 months. 



BEDFOED. 



91 



Sally Sprague, second daughter of Mv. John 
and Mrs. Phebe Sisrague, April 25, 1805, aged 
18 years. 

Mrs. Sophia, wife of Mr. Abel Slied, Feb. 20, 
1824, aged 41 years. 

Mrs. Jane (Tollard), widow of Thomas Smith, 
Feb. 29, 1868, aged 87 years. 

Mrs. Eunice, wife of John Taylor, May 7, 1737, 
aged 81 yeai-s. 

[She bequeathed the first legacy to the church, £.5.] 

Miss Elizabeth Thomas, April 6, 1839, aged 72. 

[A row of sunken, moss-covered stones sug- 
gests the sorrow that befell the Whitmore fam- 
ily during the prevalence of throat distemper.] 

Aug. 2, 1743, Ebenezer, aged 2 years 7 months 
23 days. 

Aug. 29, 1743, John, aged 5 years 10 months 

7 days. 

Sept. 11, 1745, William, 4 years 5 months 24 
days. 

Feb. 16, 1750, Lucj-, aged 4 years 3 months 

8 days. 

Feb. 21, 1750, John, aged 8 months 8 days. 

!>rarch 4, 1750, Susanna, aged 2 years 7 months 
16 days. 

April 17, 1750, ^Martha, aged 7 years 6 months 
18 days. 

Children of :Mr. John and Mrs. Martha Whit- 
more. 



1^ CL^^v^®^^^^ ^ 

|ic| In Memory of Ca^^. 
M J'oriA.t/ia.n Wi llfot^j vv/io 
^fj^ W3LS Killei in Concjoyi- 
Tight Apr.l 13^^^iJ]S. 

'Xrx t/i6 4f: ^earofbis JI§-&. 
■ / 




Jonathan Wilson, Sept. 25, 1797, in tlie 35th 
year of his age. 

Betsey A., wife of George Wilson, Aug. 25, 



1876, aged 40. 



Mr. John Whitmore, Oct. 2.5, 1748, aged 37 
years. 

[He was town clerk from 1716 till death, and a man 
of great influence.] 

Susanna, daughter of Benjamin and Susanna 
Webber, late of !Medford, and granddaughter of 
^larj' and John Whitmore, April 2, 1743, aged 
15 years. 

Mrs. Mary, relict of INIr. John Whitmore, of 
Medford, and daughter of John and Susanna 
Lane of Bedford, March 27, 1783, aged 96 years. 

[She killed the Indian. See "Experience of Jlaiy 
Lane."] 

Capt. John Webber, April 29, 1868, aged 75 
years. 

Mrs. Sarah, his wife, May 9, 1782, aged 38 years. 

Mrs. Susannah (Page), second wife, Feb. 5, 
1825, aged 75 j'ears. 

jMr. William Webber, Sept. 25, 1833, aged 71 
years. 

An honest man, the noblest ■nork of God. 

ilrs. ]Mary (Abbott), wife of William Webber, 
March 24, 1817, aged 49 years. 

Job Webber, Oct. 10, 1838, aged 69. 

Sarah, wife of Job Webber, Jan. 31, 1861, aged 
91 years 5 months 12 days. 

Miss Eliza F. Webber," Jan. 21, 1839, aged 33. 

Gently the passing spirit fled. 

Sustained by grace divine; 
Oh, may such in me be shed, 

And make my end like thine! 

Hannah R., daughter of James and Hannah 
Webber, Sept. 18, 1844, aged 34. 

Joseph Thompson, son of Joseph and Eliza 
Webber, June 1, 1844, aged 15 years 9 months. 

Tell mother I am willing to die. 

James Webber, May 21, 18.52, aged 79. 

jMrs. Hannah, wife of James Webber, Jan. 20, 
1835, aged 63. 

Hiram Webber, Jan. 18, 1857, aged 62 years. 

Fidelia, wife of Hiram Webber, April 5, 1834. 

Harriet, relict of Samuel Wyman, Nov. 11, 
1843, aged 50. 

Q:\Iiss Elizabeth P. Whitford, June 1, 1843, 
aged 20. 

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 

Ellen Adelia, infant of George W. and Adelia 
B. Woodward, Sept. 2, 1841, aged 3 weeks. 

" It is well." 2 Kings, iv. 26. 

g :Mr. James Wright, March 27, 1826, aged 51 
years. 



92 



BEDFOED. 



Mrs. Dorcas Wriglit, his wife, Xov. 22, 1846, 
aged 71 years. 

Mourn not, dear children, though we sleep 

Beneath this cold, damji sod : 
For soon the last, loud trump will soiind 

To raise us up to God. 

Timothy Page, son of Mr. James Wright and 
Mrs. Dorcas, his wife, Sept. 22, 1801, aged 20 
months. 

Miss Margaret, daughter of Mr. James and 
Jlrs. Dorcas Wright, May 10, 1832, aged 20. 

Her months of allliction are o'er, 
Her days and nights of distress ; 

We see her In anguish no more, 
She's gained a happy release. 

Jonathan Woolley, July ye 25, 1766, in the 
65th jaw of his age. 

Sauniel Woolley. Xov. 2o, 177o, in the 70th 
year of his age. 

Dea. James Wright, Dec. 24, 1818, aged 73. 

]Mrs. Euth, wife of Dea. James Wright, Jan. 6, 
1830, aged 82. 

Wliat though to stranger's unaccustomed hand 

'Twas left to smooth life's rough and toilsome road? 

No cold friend's office she now demands, 

A friend, the best of friends, sustains her, God. 

Their children : 

Euth, Sept. 15, 1775, aged 7. 

Sally, Sept. 1, 1775, aged 4. 



The absence of head-stones to the memory of 
many prominent citizens may be accounted for 
by the erection of family tombs. John Eeed 
and John Merriam, Esq., erected a tomb for 
their families in August, 1795, and Capt. Eob- 
ert Eulsifer in 1824. 

Thirteen tombs were built in 1826, and pur- 
chased by families as follows : — 

No. 1. Eleazer Davis, Sampson Spaulding, and 
Amos Hartwell. The Davis family were removed 
to Shawshine Cemetery. The Spaulding family 
were deposited in one common grave in the Old 
Burial Ground, where a granite tablet may be 
seen, erected by Mrs. Martha E. S. Norris, of 
Iowa, on which is "Sampson Spaulding and 
Family." 

No. 2. Josiah Hill. 

No. 3. Mr. Jacob Gragg and Capt. Timothy 
Page. 

No. 4. IMrs. Jonathan Lane and IMrs. Stephen 
Lane. 

No. 5. Benjamin Simonds. 

No. 6. Uriah and Thomas Goodwin. 

No. 7. Mather Hayward and Joshua Page. 



No. 8. Capt. David Eeed. 

No. 9. Dea. M. Crosby and Jeremiah Fitch. 

No. 10. Job Lane, John Wheeler, and Simeon 
Blodgett. 

No. 11. Samuel Sage, John B. Wilson, David 
Eice, and Francis Wilson. 

No. 12. Eev. Samuel Stearns and E. Stearns, 
Esq. 

No. 13. A. Preston, Esq., M. Cutler, and Ben- 
jamin Bacon. 

The following are from " Shawsheen " Ceme- 
tery:— 

1770, Eev. Samuel Stearns, 1834. Born in 
Eppiug, N.H. ; graduated from Harvard College ; 
ordained over the Church of Christ in Bedford, 
April 27, 1796. Died Dec. 26, 1834, in the 65th 
year of his age and 39th of his ministry. 

All earnest i)reacher, a faithful pastor, a good man, 
and full of the Holy Ghost. 

]\Irs. Abigail Stearns, wife of Eev. Samuel 
Stearns, daughter of Eev. Samuel French, of 
Audover. Born May 29, 1776; died Dec. 2, 
1858, in the 83d year of her age. 

Wise and good, respected and beloved, she sleejis in 
Jesus, and her memory is precious. 

Josiah A. Stearns, A.M., Ph.D., son of Eev. 
Samuel Stearns. Born Sept. 1, 1812; died Sejit. 
8, 1883. 

For thirty-nine years in the service of the city of 
Boston, as usher in the Adams and head-master of 
the Mather, Lawrence, and Norcross schools. 

Peter, a Eevolutionary soldier, freed slave of 
Eev. Josiah Stearns, Epping, N. H., faithful 
hired servant of Eev. Samuel Stearns. Born 
1750, died 1807. 

A good Christian. 

[Peter " Freeman ' ' served in the Revolution, was freed 
by his master, Eev. Josiah Stearns, of New Hampshire, 
whose son, Eev. Samuel, met him in Boxford, Mass., 
many years after, and took him to his home and cared 
for him till death. He was bm'ied near the door of the 
tomb where the body of Rev. Samuel Stearns lay for 
many years.] 

Jonathan Lane, fifth generation from Job Lane, 
the head of the family in this country. Born in 
Bedford, Jan. 27, 1788. Eemoved to Boston in 
1824. Eeturned to his native town in 1847, and 
died Nov. 12, 1860, aged 72. 

[Simple, earnest, charitable; a genial friend, a liberal 
citizen, an hiunble Christian. 

Euhamah, wife of Jonathan Lane, daughter 
of Nathaniel and Sarah Page. Born in Bedford, 



BEDFORD. 



93 



Maj- 1, 1788 ; mai'i'ied July 27, ISlo, and sur- 
vived her beloved husband twenty-two years. 

By her strong, attractive, and original character, be- 
came a conspicuous and honored representative of tlie 
two families. She died Jujie 19, 1882, aged 94 years. 

Samuel W., son of Jonathan and Euhamah 
Lane. Died March 25, 1856, aged 35 years. 

A dutiful son and affectionate brotlier, a faithful, gen- 
erous friend. Born in Bedford, early removed to Bos- 
ton. He was there known for upriglitness, sincerity, 
and trutli; for kindness to the poor, sympatliy witli tlie 
luifortiuiate and oppressed, and for a consistent Cliris- 
tian life. The active service of wliicli lie lias exdianged 
for the "Best of the people of God." 



CHAPTEK XXXIV. 



Homesteads. 



[The author's purpose in tliis section is to locate the founders 
of the town iu their respective homes, and show the subdivisions 
of farms. The estates are designated hy the present or recent 
ownership, in order to accommodate the student.] 



Each of these landlords walked amidst his farm, 
Saying, "'Tis niiuo, my children's, and my name's ; 
How sweet the west wind sounds in my own trees! 
How graceful climb those shadows on my hill ! 
I fancy these piu'e waters and the flags 
Know me, as does my dog ; we sjinpathize ; 
And, I affirm, my aetions smack of the soil." 

Wliere are these men ? Asleep beneath their grounds ; 
And strangers, fond as they, their furrows plough. 

Emerson. 




How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood, 
When fond recollection presents them to view ! 

WOODWORTH. 

Mrs. Lawrence's Estate, or Domine Manse. 
When the scattered settlers had secured the 
incorporation of the town of Bedford, in the 
autumn of 1729, they set about building a 
meeting-house, and called a preacher. The act 
of incorporation required them, within three 
years, "to settle an Orthodox minister of good 
conversation, and provide for his support." 

Rev. Nicholas Bowes was ordained as the first 
minister in June, 1730. The town gave him a 



settlement fee of £200, agreeable to custom, 
besides his annual salary. He took sixteen 
acres of land, at £8 per acre, in part for his 
"settlement." On this land he built his man- 
sion, and with his j'oung bride, the beautiful 
and accomplished daughter of Rev. John Han- 
cock, of Lexington, began the work of a New 
England clergyman of one hundred and sixty 
years ago. 

Dressed in powdered wig and short clothes, 
with silver knee and shoe buckles glistening 
in the sun, he moved among his people as the 
man of all, to be respected. Injudicious paro- 
chial work, however, brought an end to his 
usefulness, in 1754, and he entered the service 
of the colony as chaplain in the army during 
the French and Indian wars, and died at Brook- 
field on his way home. 

His oldest daughter became the wife of Rev. 
Jonas Clark, of Lexington, and as such was the 
entertainer of John Hancock and Samuel Adams 
at the Lexington parsonage, when they were 
warned of their danger by the midnight call 
of Paul Revere. 

The old manse was sold by the heirs of the 
deceased minister to John Reed, Esq., iu 1767. 
Here he and his young wife, Ruhamah Brown, 
instituted the Reed family of Bedford. Seven 
children were born to them in this mansion, and 
reared after the true Xew England style. The 
principles of patriotism were faithfully incul- 
cated by parents who looked at the vital ques- 
tions of their day from the standpoint of supe- 
rior intellect and deep-seated principle. 

The leading townsmen congregated here, and 
debated the great questions during the years 
preceding the Revolution. The owner of the 
place was made one of the committee of inspec- 
tion, and was the town's mouth-piece in the con- 
ventions and congresses that were often held 
by the dis-senting colony. He represented the 
town in the convention to form the constitution 
of the state, and until his death, in 1805, was a 
prominent citizen, and his dwelling and farm 
formed the leading estate of the town. 

The manse then became the property of his 
son, John, whose widow, Hannah Reed, was in 
full possession of the estate for several years. 
At her decease it went to the daughter of her 
son, Otis, he having died before his mother. 
Annie Reed, wife of Thomas Stiles, Esq., was 
of the fourth generation in possession. At her 
death it became the property of her sister, Mrs. 
Melvina Reed Lawrence. 

The spreading elms that shelter the croquet 
ground of the sixth generation shaded the moth- 
er of the first generation when giving her daugh. 



94 



BEDFORD. 



ter lessons at the spiniaing-wlieel one Imndred 
and tweuty-tlu-ee years earlier, and the old wheel 
stands dumb in the spacious drawing-room where 
the notes of the piano are substituted for its once 
busy hum. 

The well-kept wainscoting makes an excellent 
background for the faces in oil that have kept 
their silent vigil there for more than a century, 
while in every nook may be seen precious heir- 
looms of the family. 

The old Bible is open at the favorite morning 
lesson of the hero of the Eevolution, — " Though 
I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
death I will fear no evil." 

The foot-stove, carried by the young hands 
of the present owner for her venerable grand- 
mother to the cold meeting-house, is a well-kept 
relic, decked in ribbons; and the warming-pan 
stands on the broad staircase as of yore, when it 
was used to remove the chill from the homespun 
sheets of a hundred years ago. The traveller of 
to-day drinks at the " dominie well," and receives 
a cordial welcome at this house, as have the hun- 
dreds who have gone before him across the same 
threshold. 

Cyeus Page. — The Page farm in Bedford 
has been in the family and name two hundred 
and four years, and been owned by eight suc- 
cessive generations. It was part of a grant from 
the Colonial Court to Edward Oakes, and sold 
by him in 1661 to George Farley and others. 
Farley sold to Timothy Brooks, who at the 
opening of King Philip's War was directed 
by the town to secure his family in garrison 
No. 10, that was near by. Brooks sold to George 
Grimes, of whom the estate was bought in 1687 
by Nathaniel Page, 1st. He had come from Eng- 
land three years before, and early received an 
appointment from Gov. Joseph Dudley as sheriff 
or marshal of Suffolk County. Nathaniel Page, 
1st, died A^jril 12, 1692, and was succeeded on 
his farm by his son, Nathaniel, 2d, who was 
folowed by Christopher, John, Nathaniel, 3d, 
Nathaniel, 4th, and Cyrus, each in his genera- 
tion. They have all been known in the com- 
munity as "well-to-do farmers." 

Cyrus, of the seventh generation, and last 
farmer in possession, died in 1887, and the 
homestead is now in possession of his heirs. 
Cyrus Andrew Page, of the Beacon Publishing 
Company, Boston, is the only living sou and 
male representative of the eighth generation, in 
present jjossession. Yet there are members of 
the ninth generation who have great reverence 
for their ancestral estate. 

The dwelling that has stood fully two centu- 
ries has been recently removed to another loca- 



tion, and a modern dwelling marks the identical 
spot where more than fifty of the name of Page 
have begun life. An elm tree that has sheltered 
eight generations seems ready to serve several 
more. 

The original farm has been shorn of its acres 
from time to time. Several farms have been 
taken from it, and yet there are more than one 
hundred acres left. 

The name of Page was prominent in the his- 
tory of Billerica, and foremost in the business 
of incorporating the town of Bedford in 1729. 
The occupants of this farm have always held 
important offices in town, and been noted for 
their candor, stal)ility, and straightforward deal- 
ing. The spirit of patriotism was cradled in 
that dwelling as in but few others. The love 
of country, town, and home has led the Pages 
to sacrifice much for public interest. One of the 
family was a colonel in the French and Indian 
War, and several were in the ranks. A messen- 
ger sent out by Paul Eevere alarmed the inmates 
of that house on the night of April 18, 1775, 
and aroused Nathaniel, 3d, who left his young 
wife and babe of a few hours, to serve the col- 
ony. Four of the name were in the battle of 
Concord. Christopher was sergeant of the Min- 
ute Men, and the name is seen in various cam- 
paigns until the close of the struggle for inde- 
pendence. Timothy was killed at White Plains, 
N.Y., Oct. 28, 1776. 

Seven of the family were in the company of 
militia when they marched to the defence of 
Boston in 1812. '\Anien Sumter was fired upon 
in 1861, Cyrus, who had served as captain of the 
militia, then past sixty years of age, followed in 
the footsteps of his ancestors from that dwell- 
ing, and enlisted for three years or the war. 
Cyrus Page was the town's oracle in local his- 
tory for more than a half century; he had a 
wonderful memory, and the towns-people turned 
to this old mansion for the one who seemed to 
embody the wisdom of seven generations of 
Pages. 

The old house had sheltered for more than 
two centuries tlie colonial banner. In Nathan- 
iel's haste at early dawn of April 19, 1775, he 
did not fail to carry the standard, which he bore 
from his home at the head of the iNfinute Men 
and in the heat of the struggle of that memora- 
ble day. (See military chapter.) 

Benjamin Josiah Davis. — This estate has 
been in the family and name almost two centu- 
ries. 

Dolor Davis came from England about 1634, 
and was soon followed by his wife and several 
young children. After living at the new town, 




o 

I 



BEDFORD. 



95 



Cambridge, and later in the Plymouth Colony, 
the family settled in Concord, ifass., in 1655. 
Here his three j'ounger children, born in Amer- 
ica, married and settled. 

Samuel purchased, in 1G96, the homestead in 
the west part of I5edford, then Concord. It was 
conveyed to Samuel, 8r., by John Jones, Jr., 
Sanniel Hartwell, Sr., Joseph Dean, and Nathan- 
iel Harwood, of Concord. " In the eighth year 
of the Raiue of our Souvereign Lord William 
the third, by the Grace of God, over England, 
Scotland, France and Ireland, King and defender 
of tl e faith.'" The original deed is in the pres- 
ent owner's possession. 

TI e dwelling marks the site of the original 
hous . It is on a height of land overlooking 
the Concord River. It faces the south, after 
the plan of the pioneers. It has stood for a 
century and a half, was first painted red, but in 
recent repairs was given a coat of white. 

The homestead has passed through six genera- 
tions from Samuel, in each of which there has 
been an Eleazer. The first was born in 1680, 
the second in 1705-G, the thu-d in 1734, the 
fourth in 1768, and the fifth in 1805. 

The possession has always been in the male 
line, and until the present, the owner has been 
Eleazer. The last of the name settled on an 
adjoining farm, and a brother, Benjamin Josiah 
who was born in 1810, is the owner. 

There is living with Josiah a brother, Samuel, 
born in 1815. The eighth generation lives on 
an adjoining farm, and is often seen in the 
family group. Thirtj'-eight children, in five 
generations of the name of Davis, have been 
born on this estate. 

The Davises have been noted in military 
affairs. T-hree of the family went from this 
place with Lovewell in his famous expedition 
of 1724-5 in pursuit of the Indians to the wil- 
derness of Maine; one, Josiah, lost his life, and 
Eleazer was maimed for life. 

Two of the family were in the French and 
Indian wars, where Paul lost his life in 1763. 
Eleazer, 3d, was lieutenant of the company of 
militia at the opening of the Revolution, and 
foremost of the Bedford men at the battle of 
Concord, April 19, 1775. 

His commission as lieutenant bears date of 
April, 1775, and is treasured among the relics 
of the family, of which there are many in the 
ancient dwelling. 

The sword used by Eleazer at the battle of 
Concord, and in later campaigns of the war, to- 
gether with the old flint-lock musket, are kept 
near the bed of the venerable owner. The mus- 
ket was used b}- the family in the Revolution, 



and bought by Eleazer, 3d. for i-levi'u pcmnds 
two shillings, at a -vendue," in 1778, held by 
the town to sell its firearms, etc., for the pur- 
pose of raising money to pay public demands. 

The old "timepiece," fully six feet tall, stands 
in the same corner where it has stood for more 
than a century and done faithful service for four 
generations. 

This estate is regarded as remarkably well 
located for healtlifulness. Longevity is notice- 
able in the family. The present owmer now 
(1890) is fourscore years old, and conducts the 
business of his large farm in person. 

The family has been prominent in the history 
of the town and church ever since the incorpora- 
tion, in 1729. 

HosMER AND MuzzY. — This was the Hartwell 
homestead, and is on the Concord side of the 
town. It originally included about two hundred 
and forty-seven acres, and fell to William Hart- 
well in tlie allotment of common ground about 
1666. The present dwelling was erected in 1758, 
and sold, with a portion of the land, by Joseph 
Hartwell, of the sixth generation, to the parents 
of the present owners. Other farms have been 
taken from the Hartwell allotment, and a good 
portion of the forest land is still retained in the 
family. 

William Parker. — This estate, and those be- 
tween it and Concord line, were in the Wheeler 
name about a century. It is probable that the 
whole land was included in the twenty -nine lots 
of three hundred and fifty-seven acres taxed to 
Joseph Wheeler in 1666. Richard Wheeler is 
mentioned in the petition for a new town in 
1728. Richard, Joseph, and Jonathan Wheeler 
are all mentioned as land owners in this vicinity 
in the descriiition of the boundaries of the new 
town, in 1729. The last house on the Bedford 
side of the line was an early " block house," and 
probably erected by a Wheeler before the year 
1700. William Page, born in 1737, married 
Patte Hill in 1763, settled on this farm, occu- 
pying the Wheeler house. He died in 1812, and 
the estate went to his nephew, Mather Hay- 
ward, who came from Boxboro, married Lucy 
Page in ^May, 1800. and settled here. The dwell- 
ing opposite the Wheeler house was originally 
Page's cider-mill, and turned into a dwelling bj- 
Ebenezer, son of Mather Hayward. William, 
son of Mather Hayward, built the William Par- 
ker house, and carried on farming there for a 
series of years. George M. Parker built the 
modern house standing on the farm. 

Eleazer P. Davis. — Patrick Murrj-, Stephen 
Haynes, and the other small estates on this road, 
were included in the shares of the common lands 



96 



BEDFORD. 



of Concord that fell to Dean. Thomas Dean 
was in Concord in 1645, and died in 1676. His 
son, Joseph, married Elizabeth Fuller, in 1662, 
and died in 1718. He, with his sons, Joseph 
and Thomas, have been located here ; for their 
estates are each mentioned as bounding on land 
sold by Joseph Bulkley to William Hartwell 
1696. The northern boundary of the Dean 
lands was the Winthrop farm, the southern 
was Hartwell's, and that of Joseph French was 
west of it. Winship, Eliab Lee, and Nathan 
Reed were each owners of the Davis estate be- 
fore it came to that family, and the latter sold 
to Eleazer F.' Davis, whose son, George P., is the 
present owner. 

We find Col. Timothy Jones at the Murry 
place very early. The present dwelling was 
iouilt by liim very soon after the Revolutionary 
War. It was a superior house of that day. 
Reuben Duren of the town was the architect. 
At the "raising," Rev. Mr. Penninian offered a 
most eccentric prayer, after having indulged too 
freely in the " mixed drink " of the occasion. 
The council at the ordination of Rev. Samuel 
Stearns was entertained here in a manner befit- 
ting the occasion. The farm is now owned by 
Temple and Beard, and occupied for a nursery. 

It is evident that the Haynes estate is covered 
by the Pellet and Dean shares of the common 
grounds of Concord. In Walcott's "Concord," 
p. 133, is the following: "Thomas Pellet, being 
in great present want, the selectmen gave him 
a cow, July 13, 1693." The Pellet and Dean 
families were united by marriage. Dean sold to 
iMoore. Capt. John Moore was living here at 
the opening of the Revolution, and probably 
inherited the estate from his father, Jolm, 
who was established before the incorporation. 
His wife, Elizabeth, died :vrarch 28, 1732, and 
John, Sr., died Aug. 21, 1765. He ^yas killed 
by falling from a load of hay when entering the 
barn. Bradley Bowers married Lydia Moore 
Feb. 19, 1793, hence the Bowers' possession, 
which was followed by Stephen Haynes and 
others to the present John McGovern. 

Jajies Kavaxaugh. — The IVIoore farm in- 
cluded this, with the other small homesteads in 
the vicinity. Leauder Hosuier started the Kav- 
anaugh home. 

McGovERX. — These farms were included in 
the Hartwell estate. Stephen, son of William, 
born 1716, is thought to have established the 
home. He was followed by his son, Samuel, 
who married, Oct. 26, 1779, ]Mrs. Desire (Batch- 
elder) Brown. They adopted Hannah Evans, 
a granddaughter of Mrs. Desire Hartwell, who 
married, first, Jonas Putnam and, second, Moses 



Page. Througli inheritance the farm was di- 
vided, and has since been held in separate shares. 
The discontinued road by this house was original- 
ly a part of a highway from Billerica to Concord. 
Nathan B. Smith and Henry Bacon. — 
These farms were included in one for many 
years. The location is that of the farm of 
Thomas Woolley, son of Christopher, who was 
in Concord in 1646, according to Shattuck. 
Thomas Woolley bought of Nathan Sto^v, in 
October, 1689, one hundred acres of land for 
forty-five pounds. It is described as being near 
a place called "Shawshine" (Billerica), bounded 
on the north by land of Joseph French, on the 
west by land of Moses Wheat and Timothy 
Wheeler, on the south by land of John Hart- 
well, and on the east and sovitheast by land of 
Joseph Taylor and John !Merriam. There were 
three generations of Woolleys in possession suc- 
cessively, each of them being Thomas. The 
first died in 1721. The second, with his wife, 
Mary Chandler, deeded, April 4, 1761, one-half 
of ninety-six acres of land, in the southerly part 
of Bedford, to Zaehariah Fitch, for one hundred 
and seventy pounds. This was the easterly part 
of the farm. Capt. Joseph Fitch married, sec- 
ond, about 1750, Mrs. Rachel Converse, and set- 
tled here. He died February, 1769, and left 
the estate to his sons, Joseph and Thaddeus. 
Joseph Fitch, then living in New Hampshire, 
sold, in September, 1769, to Joseph Converse, 
who, with Thaddeus Fitch, his half brother, 
became the owners. Converse carried on the 
business of a tanner and currier here. In 1S()4 
Ebeuezer Clark bought an estate of two hun- 
dred and seventeen and one-half acres, for six 
thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars, 
which included the Converse property. In the 
following year fifty acres were sold to Benjamin 
Simonds, Sr., and later, in 1812, the homestead 
was purchased by William Hartwell, wlio sold his 
half of the Hartwell homestead to his brother, 
Joseph, and relocated at the Converse jjlace. 
William Hartwell died here in 1819. He was 
followed by his son, Amos, and later by Benja- 
min F., who sold to his son-in-law, Hannibal S. 
Pond, who was followed by others to the present. 
Zebedee Simonds, with his brother, Benja- 
min, came, with their parents, to Bedford, and 
located in the south part of the town, about 
1805, and started shoe manufacturing. They 
bought real estate of different parties. Thad- 
deus Fitch sold his farm to them in 1813, 
and there Zebedee Simonds built his residence, 
which was sold after his decease, in 1826, to 
Obed Stearns, and passed from that family, 
through temporary possession to the present. 



BEDFORD. 



97 



•A.^:!:^'^ 







"■■^/'//!'M 



Between broad fields of wheat and corn 
Is the lowly home where I was born ; 
The peach tree leans against the wall, 
And the woodljine wanders over all. 




There is the barn, — and, as of yore, 
I can smell the hay from the open door, 
-Vnd sec the bnsy swallows throng. 
And hear the peewee's monrnfnl song. 
Oh. ye who daily cross the sill, 
Step lightly, for I love it still ! 

And wlien you crowil the old barn eaves, 
Tlien think what countless harvest sheaves 
Ilave passed within that scented door. 
To gladden eyes that are no more. 

Thomas Blxhanan Read. 

Bexjamix F. Hartwell. — This estate was 
iiieludeil ill the Patrick Fassett share of the 
squadron division made in 1708. It passed from 
Fassett to John Lemon, and in 1721 to Israel 
Putnam, whose dwelling, one of the earliest in 
tliis part of the town, was on this estate in 1729. 
He gave the land for the burial ground " as it was 
first laid out," and was a prominent citizen, being 
chosen the first deacon of the church, in 1730. He 
was also one of the first constables, and a collector 
of the "rates'" at the the beginning of the town's 
municipal history. John Lane was a subsequent 



owner of the estate, and was succeeded by David 
Fitch, who occupied it after leaving the mill 
farm. He was succeeded by his daughter, Mary 
Fitch, wife of Benjamin F. Hartwell ; and her 
daughter, Mary Alzina, wife of Matthew R. 
Fletcher, followed in the possession. " Fletcher 
Avenue " runs through this farm, and the land 
is offered for building purposes. Five handsome 
dwellings are already seen there, in addition to 
the Fitch house, wliich was removed and re- 
located on the avenue. ^Irs. Fletcher has given 
a lot to the town for a pulilic library, as a memo- 
rial of her mother. 

.loHx Neville. — The name of Davis appears 
here very early. Stephen, son of Samuel and 
Mary (Medows) Davis, born in 1686, married, 
in 1713, Elizabetli Fletcher, and located here. 
In the description of boundaries in connection 
with the act of incorporation, in 1729, it appears 
tliat Stephen Davis and John Stearns were each 
located in this vicinity. Tlie Stearns farm was 
later added to the Davis estate. Stephen Davis, 
Sr., was a man of marked ability. He was active 
in the incorporation of the town, and was one 
of the first constables, hence collector of taxes. 
He died in 1738, and was succeeded by his son, 
Steplien (Deacon). He was the only child of 
seven, of Stephen and Elizabeth, that came to 
maturity. He died in 1787, and was followed in 
the possession by his son, Thaddeus, whose wife, 
Sarali Stearns, died in 1807. Amos Hartwell 
(Deacon) followed the Davis family. It was 
sold by him to the present owner. 

Mead Place. — This abandoned homestead 
was once the scene of prosperity. Three fami- 
lies that flourished early in this territory, now 
without representatives here, seem, by tlie rec- 
ords, to be associated with this place. They are 
Cheever, Taylor, and ^lead. Israel Mead, born 
in 1639, married, in 1669, Mary Hall, and settled 
here. Their son, Stephen, born in 1679, mar- 
ried, in 1700, Euth Taylor (daughter of Joseph), 
and followed in the possession. Stephen Mead 
died, and left one young son, Joseph. Euth 
(Taylor) JNIead married, second, in 1718, Daniel 
Cheever ; hence the Cheever possession. He was 
active in forming the new town, and died in 
1733. The estate was purchased by Joseph 
Mead, in 1741, for four hundred and thirty 
pounds. The next in the family possession was 
his son, Stephen, who married, in 1765, Desire 
Batchelder, widow of Joseph Brown. They 
were succeeded by their son, Asa, who married, 
in 1S03, Nabby Eames. Artemas, the youngest 
child of Asa and Nabby (Eames) Mead, born in 
1817, spent part of his life here, sold the farm, 
and located in Woburn. Asa, born Feb. 4, 1804, 



98 



BEDFORD. 



aud died in 1S3S, was buried on the farm at his 
own request. 

jMuih:e Fakm. — This is included in that jiart 
of the jMerriani share of comraon lands of Con- 
cord that came within the limits of Bedford at 
the incorporation. Nathaniel Merriam, chosen 
deacon in 1730, was located here, with his fam- 
ily. He died in 1738, and was succeeded by his 
son, John (Lieut.). He died in 1767. After 
his decease the farm was divided, and John 
established a home on the opposite side of the 
highway, while William remained at the old 
home. Lieut. William INIerriam had a large 
family here. He was prominent in town until 
he was mentally diseased. The farm was sold 
to Benjamin Simonds, in 1815, by Thompson 
Bacon, guardian of Willia::;. Seth Whitford 
W'as a subsequent owner, and William Mudge 
purchased the estate in 1856. John Merriam, 
who settled on the other half of this farm, mar- 
ried Hannah Brooks Dec. 4, 1760. He was suc- 
ceeded by his son, John, who was followed by 
Eldridge. He sold to Amos^Hartwell. 

Tetkr Keeley. — The land was a jjart of the 
INIerriam farm. The house was built from the 
second schoolhouse in the district. 

C. L. Wait. — This farm probably included 
the ]\Iichael Bacon purchase of P.oger Shaw. 
Oliver Heed settled here about 1750. Had a 
son, Oliver, born in 1755, who lived in the west 
part of the town, and a son, Pieuben, continued 
the family possession. He was followed by 
Cyrus Keed. It then passed out of the family. 
Roger Lane was a subsequent owner, and his 
son, George, planted the hedge of pine trees bor- 
dering "Evergreen Avenue." Hiram Clark fol- 
lowed Lane, and after him there were several 
ow-uers before the ]iresent, one of whom was 
Royal Pierce. 



Benjamin Danforth was innkeeper here when 
the town was incorporated. Capt. John Web- 
ber, of Scotch origin, born 1733, married Sarah 
Fassett, and settled here about 1760, and had 
twelve children, who became heads of the vari- 
ous branches of that family. Nine of the twelve 
children of Captain John lived to the average 
age of seventy-six years aud six months. 

John Webber Jr., succeeded his father in pos- 
session and was followed by the present ow^uer. 

Hensley. — Christopher Page was located here 
on a portion of the Nathaniel Page purchase, 
about 1700. He sold to Job Lane, Sr., in March, 
1727. Lane followed the business of an inn- 
keeper until his death, 1747. William Webber 
married Mary Abbott, and settled here in 1791. 
After his death, 1833, there were Gurney, Ryon, 
Ward, and Hensley. The old house was de- 
stroyed by fire, and the present dwelling was 
erected by the last-named possessor. 

William Lyons. — It was first included in the 
Page purchase. James Webber and Hannah Da- 
vis married in 1804 and established a home here. 
They had two daughters, and adopted William, 
who lost his eye in hunting for crow-s. (See 
Bounty for crows, etc.) Larkin P. Page spent 
some years on this farm, and sold to present 
owner, who built the dwelling. 

Michael Myers. — This farm was included 
in the Page purchase, 1687. Christopher Page. 
married Susannah Webber, and settled here 
about 1740. They had six children, two of 
whom reached mature life. Their son Chris- 
topher, born 1743, went from this home to Con- 
cord, April 19, 1775 (one of the minute men). 
Their daughter l\Iary, born 1746, married Deacon 
Nathan Reed, of Lexington. John Davis was a 
later owner ; he was followed by others who sold 
to the present occupant. 




Kenrick. — This has been alluded to in the | Eknstein, Rosenthal, Fisk, Skinnee, Frost, 
general history as the possible site of the Shaw- Ireland, Fitch, Butterfield and Clark are 
shine House. It was an early tavern stand. I settled on the laud (five hundred acres) that was 



BEDFORD. 



99 



granted in 1G52 to Rev. Jonathan Mitchell, sec- 
ond minister of Cambridge. (See General His- 
tory.) It was all purchased by Michael Bacon, 
July 19, 1682, for £200. No doubt other lands are 
included in these farms as they are now bounded. 
Tlie \\'lu'eler family are early found located at 
Ernstein's and Rosenthal's. 0. W. Fisk's farm 
occupies a central portion of the Bacon purchase. 
Capt. Jonathan Wilson was living here at the 
time of the Revolution. He went from his 
home at the head of the minute men of the town, 
to Concord, and was killed April 19, 1775. (See 
Military History and Epitaphs.) "Wilson was 
connected with the Bacon family by marriage. 
Among later owners were Cogswell and Clifton. 
Frank Frost occupies the Bacon house, supposed 
to be the original. Six generations of the Bacon 
family were born in it. (See Frontispiece.) 
Garrison " No. 10," of 1675 was in this vicinity. 
Joseph Skinner purchased of Bacon, erected the 
buildings which he occupied, and conducted the 
business of a farmer and blacksmith until his 
death. John Ireland has that part of the Bacon 
purchase upon which Capt. Goodridge was early 
settled. He was succeeded by his son liowman, 
Elijah Brown and Frank Frost. Frank 1'. Fitch 
has a part of the estate purchased by Benjamin 
Fitch about 1730. It inchulcd the mill site now 
owned by Charles H. Clark. Tlie homestead and 
mill were held as one estate by three generations 
of the Fitch family, viz., Benjamin, David, David. 
The last-named sold the mill to William M. 
Ashby, and Charles H. Clark was his successor. 
The homestead was inherited by Nathan, and is 
now owned by Frank P. Fitch, who is of the 
fifth generation in the family possession. The 
house was built bv the second David. 




THE STKEAM AND .MILL. 

"I'is the gentle stream that ripples on, 
To spivail its waves amiil tlie sea; 

'Tis the rustic mill of days agone 
T'hat grouml the corn for you ami me. 

Other forms are mirrored now 
Amid tlie verdure at its side: 

Other men the hillsides plough 
That rise above the gentle tide. 



But them of old we'll not forget 
Who faced the red and savage foe ; 

Their valorous deeds are treasured yet, 
Their lives of mingled joy an.l woe. 

A stranger's hand may guide the mill, 
And hold the title of the stream; 

But memory has a claim there still 
Which man will cherish and esteem. 

The AurnoE. 

John Butterfield's farm includes that upon 
which Hugh ^Maxwell settled about the time of 
the incorporation. The famous warriors, Hugh 
and Thompson Maxwell were born on this estate. 
The Bowman family were found here later, 
and Capt. Elijah Skelton owned and occupied 
the place is 1816. Josiah Gleason followed him, 
and was succeeded by Mrs. Walcott. 

HuNNEWELL and Skelton are located on the 
Gookin grant, which had for its southern bound- 
ery Vinebrook. It was sold to Robert Thomp- 
son, August, 1761. Amos Huiniewell has that 
part which was occupied by Deacon Michael 
Crosby about 1812; and by his descendants for 
many years. Edmund Skelton's homestead is 
that part of the grant on which Hittchinson 
lived. The house was built by White. " Esquire 
Yates " lived here in 1815. The abandoned 
house was'S Bacon possession. Oliver Bacon 
was the owner in 1778. The Gookin grant also 
included the Wyman homestead. It was the 
home of Amos, whose wife entertained Hancock 
and Adams on April 19, 1775. 

WiLLARD Ladd's farm and H. H. Staples' 
mill, with the other real estate on the south side 
of Vine Brook, represent several small grants, 
including one of thirty acres "to encourage John 
Wilson's Corne Mill," in 1685. It was a Wilson 
settlement until a comparatively recent date. 
Gleason and Blodget each carried on the busi- 
ness of milling here. The brick house was occu- 
pied by the latter in 1812. 

McCarty or William Rage Farm. — The 
name of Joseph Fassett is early traced to this 
farm. He bought of Timothy Brooks a part of 
the Oakes farm. He was the head of the fam- 
ily in this territory, "accepted inhabitant in 
1679, June 2." Ebenezer Page appears here 
after the Fassetts, and later William Page, whose 
name is still associated with the land. 

D.wiD L. B. Fitch. — This farm was included 
in the Edward Oakes grant. Leonard White 
established the home. He was a farmer and a 
noted teamster. His ambition to outdo others 
of the same business led him to drive a load of 
wood to Boston, which the authorities refused to 
admit to the city streets. The present owner is 
the third generation of Fitches in possession. 



L.ofC. 



100 



BEDFORD. 



E. G. LooMis. — The Edward Oakes grant 
included this homestead. George Farley and 
Ralph Hill were purchasers in 1661. David 
Reed had the farm from Hartwell. He removed 
the original dwelling which stood on the oppo- 
site side of the street. David Reed married 
Hannah Raymond, in 1772, and established a 
home here. He built the mansion now standing, 
which he occupied as a tavern, with the sign 
pictured below. After the Reed faniily's pos- 




session ceased, the farm had several temporary 
owners, among whom was Hodgman, who con- 
ducted the business of a butcher. Jonathan 



returned to Bedford and settled on the David 
Reed farm. It remained in the Lane name until 
the death of Mrs. Lane, 1882, when E. G. Loo- 
mis, Esq., grandson of Jonathan and Ruhamah 
I/ane, became the owner. 

MosKs E. RowE. — The land was included 
with the above described estate. The buildings 
were erected by John A. Merriam. Albert Bacon 
was a later possessor and sold to Ephriam Jones, 
of whose heirs the present owner made the pur- 
chase. 

Beowx and Haktwell farms with the Town 
Farm, a home for the poor, were all owned by 
Pages, and were included in the Page purchase 
and in the common grounds not divided until 
1707. Thomas Page married Anna Merriam and 
settled at the Hartwell farm about 1706. They 
had no children, but treated nephews as such. 
The decease of Anna Page occurred in 1810; 
when Joseph Brown had one farm, and Nathan- 
iel had the other. The latter sold to Buttrick, 
who occujjied the farm for awhile ; and Joseph 
Hartwell followed after this, at whose death 
(1868) it was sold to David Constantine. Joseph 
Brown was succeeded by son Moses F., whose 
descendants are now in possession of the farm. 
David Page, known as "King David," was an 
early owner of the '-Poor Farm." 

Bedford Spkixos. — Included in the Thomas 
Oakes grant. (See Industrial Section.) 




BEDFORD SPRINGS. 



Lane married, July 27, 1815, Ruhamah Page, 
and located in the north part of the town, where 
he conducted the business of a cooper, and later, 
1824, became a merchant in Boston. In 1847 



CoNST.\xTixE Hill. — This was a Hill home- 
stead at and before the incorporation. The 
buildings and a part of the land came within 
the limits of Bedford. Josiah Hill married Su- 



BEDFORD. 



101 



sanna Davis, in 1789, and settled here. He was 
succeeded by his son Constantine, who erected 
the present dwelling on the site of the old one, 
which was of a very primitive style. There was 
a secret apartment in the centre of the house, 
known as " Grimes' Hole." The tradition is that 
in the days of Indian alarms a man by that name 
lived on the farm and liad a secret hiding place. 
The old house was used not only for a dwelling, 
but as a place for curing hops, this being a crop 
much cultivated on the farm. There wei'e other 
buildings near the Hill farm, as appears from 
the following : — 

"Boston, Nov. 27, 1798. Keeeived of Mr. 
Josiah Hill four pound in Cash and four pound 
in Cyder, in full of the Rent of my house and 
Land in Bedford, from first April, 1798, to first 
April, 1799. — Abigail Otis." 

It appears that Josiah Hill was of the "aris- 
tocracy " of that time, as he was taxed in Sep- 
tember, 1800, "a duty of three dollars upon a 
two-wheel carriage, called a chaise, owned by 
him, with a top, to be drawn by one horse, for 
the conveyance of persons." The estate, in part, 
remained in the Hill name until about 1885. 



son of Samuel, married, Oct. 1, 1733, Elizabeth 
Grimes, and located here. From him it went to 




KOBIXSON HOUSE. 

RoBixsoN or Foster. — This is one of the 
very old homesteads of Bedford. The house, 
demolished about 1870, was of the oldest styles 
of architecture of New England. The brick- 
lined wall leads to the conclusion that it was 
used as a resort for safety in the Indian wars, 
and may have been the garrison that has not 
been located in the town, of which there is evi- 
dence. The name of Bowman is traced to this 
place before 1700. Jesse Robinson bought the 
place and settled here about 1800. His son 
Charles remained on the homestead, where three 
of the third generation were born. The estate 
was sold out of the family about 1870, since 
which the present dwelling has been erected on 
the exact site of the former. 

PixE Grove Farm. — The larger part of the 
land was on the Concord side. Zachariah Fitch, 




SAMPSON HOUSE 

his daughter, I'hcebe Fitch Sprague, wife of 
John, who was son of Nicholas, of Billerica, 
born April 26, 1759. It was next in possession 
of their daughter Susannah, wife of William 
Clark ; and she was succeeded by her daughter, 
Sarah C, wife of Albert P. Sampson. The cedar 
swamp, divided into lots, is separated from the 
estate by " Mingo Ditch." The swamp is desig- 
nated in a deed from Andrew Wadkins to James 
"Wheeler, in 1728, as '• Sancta Domingo Swamp," 
which in our language may be called Sacred Do- 
minion, and may suggest the present " Mingo." 

C. H. Wood. — This was the Wright estate. 
The " Old Red House " was occupied by sev- 
eral generations of the family. James Wright 
was in the Revolution from Bedford. He was 
chosen deacon in 1785, and was a prominent 
man in town and church. He led in the mu- 
sic of worship and had charge of the town's 
" Pitch Pipe " and " Big Fiddle." The first birth 
in the family recorded in town was that of Tab- 
itlia, born in 1768. The Wrights carried on the 
business of tanning and currying here. Henry 
Wood followed the Wrights in possession, and 
his son succeeded him, and erected the present 
commodious buildings. 

Associated with the Wright homestead was 
that now owned by Martin Kelley. It was a 
part of the Page purchase of 1687. Timothy 
Page, son of John and Rebecca Wheeler, born 
1741, married and settled here about 1767. Their 
children were Joseph W. and Dorcas. The lat- 
ter was born three days after the opening en- 
gagement of the Revolution, in which her father 
took a part at Concord. He entered the Conti- 
nental army, and was killed at White Plains, 
N.Y. Dorcas Page married James Wright, Jr., 
and became the mother of seven children. Tar- 
box, Centre, and Bacon were owners of the estate 
before the present, who erected the modern 
dwelling, and converted the barren acres to a 
productive vegetable farm. 

Captain Smith F.vrm. — This land must have 
been included in the Grant to Thomas Oakes 
and in the common lands of Billerica. A portion 



102 



BEDFORD. 



of the farm was doubtless taken from the share 
of the allotment of 1707 that fell to Jonathan 
Hill. Oliver Pollard, who married Mary Hill 
in 1777, was an early possessor of the estate. 
Rev. Nathaniel Sherman, settled as minister of 
the town in 1759, lived at this place dnring a 
Piart of his ministry. Oliver Pollard, Sr., died 
in 1831, aged 94 yeai'S. He was succeeded by 
his son Oliver, who biiilt the present dwelling, 
and sold to John Smith, whose son, George H., 
continued the familv possession until liis death, 
in 1889. 

WiNTHEOP Farm. — Hiram Dutton's house is 
thought to represent the first dwelling erected 
on the Winthrop Farm, and it is not impossible 
that the ancient house now standing was built 
by Job Lane soon after his purchase of fifteen 
hundred acres of Fitz John Winthrop, in 1664. 
The farm was in the family po'ssession for many 
years. Moses Fitch was a more recent owner 
and was succeeded by Abbott, who was followed 
by the present possessor. 

Brook Side is a very appropriate name given 
to the Fitch homestead. Samuel Fitch, who 
inherited one-fourth of the Winthrop farm from 
his grandfather. Job Lane, built a house and set- 
tled here previous to 1696. Samuel was the first 
clerk of the town of Bedford. He was succeeded 
in the homestead possession by a son Jeremiah, 
who had a son Jeremiah. The owners in the 
fourth generation of the name were IMatthew 
and John (twin sons of Jeremiah, 2d). Four 
brothers went from this estate -to Concord on 
the morning of -April 19, 1775. After about one 
hundred and twenty-five years of Fitch posses- 
sion, the farm was bought by John P. Reed, 
who removed the old house. It stood near the 
brook, which crossed beneath the highway in its 
winding course to the river. The sills of the 
house were below the surface, requiring a step 
down to enter the rooms. Charles L. Wait was 
a later owner, and the present is Marcellus Cope- 
land. 

Sunny Side is the name recently given to a 
second homestead that was taken from the Fitch 
land. Stephen Lane, son of Timothy and Lydia 
(Davis), born in 1755, married Alice (Stearns) 
Abbott, in 1806, and lived here. Their daugh- 
ter, Lydia Harriet, wife of John W. Hayward, 
inherited the property, and sold to Justus P. 
Hastings ; others have followed in ownership. 
Mrs. Hooper is now in possession. 

John Lane married, in 1745, Ruth Bowman, 
and later, Mrs. Sarah (Abbott) Hildreth, and 
settled on that part of the Job Lane estate 
known as the George Fisk homestead. Jona- 
than, born in 1763, succeeded his father in the 



]jossession. He married Hannah Lane, daugh- 
ter of Samuel. Thej' had a large family born 
here, of whom, Jonathan, married Ruhamah 
Page, and carried on the business of a cooper, 
on the homestead, until he removed to Boston, 
in 1824. . Their son, Hon. Jonathan A. Lane, of 
Boston, began life at this place. Charles Lane, 
the donor of the Town Hall clock, was one of 
the sixth generation. Arinda Lane, sister of 
Charles, married George Fisk, in 1824, and re- 
mained, with her family, at her paternal home- 
stead. George Fisk manufactured band-boxes 
here. It was the V)irthplace of Jonathan Fisk, 
who died in the Civil War. One of the first 
chaises owned in town was bought by Hannah 
Lane, after the death of her husband. The first 
cooking stove owned in town was used here by 
George Fisk. 

The Jackson farm was a part of the Lane 
estate. The first building erected was Jonathan 
Lane's cooper shop. 

Frederick Davis. This was a Lane posses- 
sion, until sold by John Lane to Dea. Moses 
Fitch, who married Rachel Stearns, and occu- 
pied it. They were succeeded by son Joel, who 
sold to Thaddeus Davis, father of the present 
owner. The original buildings were removed 
by the first Davis owner, who erected new ones 
which were destroyed by fire, after which the 
present commodious buildings were erected. 

Edward A. Butters. It was a, i^art of C)liver 
Pollard's estate, and formerly included in the 
Lane farm. A plan made by Stejjhen Davis, in 
1773, shows Pollard as owner at that time. His 
son Obed received it as a reward for marrying 
before other members of his generation in the 
family. Levi Bailey bought the estate early in 
the present century. It was sold by his execu- 
tor to a grandson, the present owner. 

Elm Farm is a name given by the present 
owners of a share of the Lane farm. Capt. 
Samuel Lane, who died in 1802, was the last 
of the name to cultivate this farm. His heirs 
joined in a deed of sale to Oliver Pollard, April 
20, 1803. Jacob Gragg was a later owner. He 
started the ju'esent dwelling, which has been 
greatly enlarged. The modern additions were 
made in 1890 by the owner, George C. Skilton. 

Job B. Lane. This estate has never been out 
of the Lane family since the purchase by Job, 
in 1664. Walter David, now living with his 
mother at the homestead, is of the eighth gen- 
eration of the family and name who have occu- 
pied this estate. The house was built by David. 
(See Family Record.) 

Coolidge. This was in the Lane name until 
purchased by Charles Coolidge, *ho sold to the 




I- x: 



I 



BEDFORD. 



103 



present owner, ^Irs. Drake. The old house 
stood west of the present highway. On Stephen 
Davis' plan James Lane is located there in 1773. 
Five generations of the name of Lane were born 
there. Oliver J. Lane built tlie present dwell- 
ing. 

Francis Rodman. The dwelling stands on the 
western border of the common grounds of Bil- 
lerica which were divided in 1707, but part of 
the land was included in the Job Lane purchase. 
Meshach Penniman, brother of the third minis- 
ter, was located at this jilace during the Revo- 
lution. The town took special precaution to 
prevent his gaining a residence, by refusing to 
tax him, and the Lanes may never have quitted 
their claim. James Lane, with his wife, Molly 
Pollard, were the successors of Penniman. Own- 
ers since the Lanes have been Goodwin, Mans- 
field, Bacon, Cutler, Davis, to the present. 

William W. Farrell. This part of the Win- 
throp Farm left the Lane name when purchased 
by Quincy Blake, of the heirs of Eliab Lane. 
The house was built very earlj^ probably by 
Joseph Fitch, who married Sarah Grimes, in 
1731. He was a builder of note, and the con- 
tractor for building the first meeting-house. He 
is recorded as a mill-wright, and without doubt 
was the early |)roprietor of the mill on Pepper- 
grass Brook. Josiali Crosby, at the age of fif- 
teen years, was bound to Joseph Fitch to learn 
the " millright's art." 

Fitzgeralds. — This is tliought to jiave been 
the tavern kept by Walter Pollard. (See Indus- 
tries.) There was an early saw-mill on Pepper- 
grass Brook where it crosses this farm. It 
belonged to the Lane estate. The present house 
is supposed to have been moved from that local- 
ity. PollarcTwas succeeded by Rev. Joseph Pen- 
niman. Dr. Aniariah Preston, who began the 
practice of medicine in this town in 1790, mar- 
ried Haunali Reed, October IS of that year, and 
located at this place. (See Biographical Sketch.) 
He was succeeded by Jane Pollard, who married 
Thomas Smith in 1833. It was later owned by 
Daniel Kinnivan, and now held by his heirs. 

Samuel H. Huckius' farm represents a part 
of the Job Lane purchase of 1664. John Lane 
married, in 1714, Catherine Whiting, and located 
here. He was succeeded by his son, Samuel, 
who died June 26, 1802, and, leaving no sons, 
the estate was no longer held in the name. The 
original dwelling was strongly built, with plank 
walls and brick linings. It was removed by 
Peter Fai-mer, who built the present house. He 
was succeeded by Banfield, who was followed 
bj' the present owner. 

Hexry Desmazes. — (Oak Grove Farm.) This 



farm extends into that part of the Dudley Farm 
which was purchased by John Stearns. Job 
Lane, the founder of the second Lane family 
in this town, bought a house and fifty acres of 
land of Caleb Farley, about the year 1700. This 
he exchanged with Christopher Page for a house 
and one hundred and fifty acres of land, near 
the Shawshine River, in the year 1727. The 
Hutchinson family is found here soon after the 
incorporation of Bedford. Benjamin and his 
wife, Rebecca, were doubtless residents of the 
place. She died in 1814 and he in 1815. They 
had each attained the age of ninety-one years. 
Simeon Stearns bought the place after the death 
of the Hutchiusons, and settled here. He was 
succeeded by his son, Elbridge W., who sold the 
estate and located in the village. 

Dudley L. Pickman is the present owner of 
that part of the Dudley farm which was owned 
by Edward Stearns in 1766, and then set off 
to Bedford. His son, Elijah, succeeded to the 
homestead, and was followed by his brother, 
Simeon. B. B. Frothingham, of Charlestown, 
came later, and was followed by James Vila. 
Walcott and Emery came about 1840, removed 
the old house, and built the present dwelling. 
The property has had numerous owners, and is 
now in the possession of one who is descended 
from Lieut-Gov Dudley, who, with Gov. John 
Winthrop, selected their farms, in 1638, when 
standing by the boulders seen in the illustration 
which they then named the " Two Brothers," " in 
remembrance that they were brothers by their 
children's marriage, and did so brotherly agree." 
The line of descent of the present owner from 
the grantee of the colony is as follows : Gov. 
Dudley (grantee); Rev. Samuel Dudley; Doro- 
thy Dudley, married Moses Leavett ; Rev. Dud- 
ley Leavitt ; Marj- Pickering Leavitt, married 
William Pickman ; Dudley L. Pickman ; Wil- 
liam Dudley Pickman; Dudley Leavitt Pickman. 
Tradition says that the large trees seen in the 
rear of the buildings were being set by Solo- 
mon Stearns at the time of the alarm of the 
march of the British. He was in the engage- 
ment at Concord, April 19, 1775, entered the 
camp at Cambridge, and there contracted a dis- 
ease which terminated his life in one month. 
Timber for the first bridge built over Charles 
River at Charlestown came from this farm. It 
was furnished by Edward Stearns. 

William J. Stoddard was the last owner of 
the Uriah Goodwin homestead, who occupied it 
many years. Goodwin was from Billerica. He 
was succeeded by his son, Uriah, who built the 
house on the site of the original, which . was 
destroyed by fire. Uriah Goodwin lived in Bos- 



104 



BEDFORD. 



ton after his residence at this farm, and hiter 
returned to it. 

Rev. Samuel Stearns. — This homestead rep- 
resents a part of the common land that was divid- 
ed in 1707. Tlie liouse was built for Rev. Joseph 
Penniman, the third minister of the town. It 
was the second house of which Reuben Duren 
was the architect. It was not fully completed 
when Rev. Samuel Stearns became the minister 
of the town, and purchased the mansion-house 
with a farm of about twenty acres. It is still 
owned by the family. 



homestead. He was a faithful friend of his 
native town. Miss Caroline M. Pitch next suc- 
ceeded to the possession, and still owns the 
homestead. There was once included with the 
farm all of the land from the Elbridge W. Stearns 
estate to the Common. The benevolent and jjro- 
gressive spirit of Jeremiah Fitch (third) prompt- 
ed him to offer inducements to people to build 
houses and establish homes. Some of the build- 
ers on the Fitch laud were David Rice, Amos B. 
Cutler, Lewis P. Gleason, Edward !Merritt, and 
George Dutton. 








THE STEAJRXS HOUSE. 



Aaeox H. ^March. — The first store of the 
town was kept on this site by Henry Abbott, of 
Andover. He began the business of a store- 
keeper soon after the fourth minister began his 
work among the people. Abbott was succeeded 
by Elijah Stearns, Esq., who erected the house 
and the building now used for a store. The 
first post-office was established on this site. The 
present owner purchased of the Stearns heirs. 

Stone Ceoft Farm is the oldest homestead 
in the village. Benjamin Kidder bought land 
of several parties between 1729 and 1756, and 
built the present dwelling before 1731. He sold 
to Daniel Rea or Ray, whose two sons sold to 
Jeremiah Fitch, Jr., in 1766, who kejrt tavern 
here and provided the entertainment for the 
minute men on the morning of April 19, 1776. 
He occupied it until death, in ISOS, and was 
succeeded by his son Jeremiah, who was a mer- 
chant in Boston, and spent but little time at the 



Rounds. — This homestead was a portion of 
the estate of John Reed, Esq., who died in 1805. 
It was inherited by his son Roger, who erected 
the present mansion on the site of one of the 
very early houses of the town. He married, in 
1790, Sarah (daughter of Capt. John Webber 
and Sarah Fassett). Their children born here 
were Sally and Eliot. The latter married, in 
1821, Capt. Charles 0. Gragg (a seafaring man). 
The homestead was sold by them, and has had 
various owners before the present. 

John "Walsh. — The dwelling was built by 
Charles 0. Gragg on a part of the above 
described estate, and at first occupied by 
him. 

Silas Wilkixs. — The homestead on Wilkins' 
Hill was included in John Moore's farm, and was 
inherited by his daughter Mary, who married 
Thaddeus Fitch, son of Joseph. Their three 
children, Mary, Sarah, and Joseph, were born 



BEDFORD. 



10.5 



here. The possessions were temiiorary after 
Silas Wilkiiis sold the farm. 

Si'Kix(; Street. — Previous to 182S the first 
dwelling on this street, in going from the village, 
was that already designated as the Mrs. Sarah 
Foster place, better known to earlier generations 
by the name of Konixsux. Mr. Joshiia Page, 
whose career as a builder marks a very impor- 
tant epoch in the development of the town, be- 
gan the Spring street enterprise about 1828. He 
purchased a pasture of James Wright, and began 
the buildings on the north side of the street, fol- 
lowing the wisdom of the fathers, who located so 
as to face the south. He purchased and removed 
the second schoolhouse of the Centre, after the 
erection of the brick house, and made it into two 
tenements, known as the Sauxders place. It 
was early owned and occu[ned by Job Webber, 
son of Capt. John, then by son Artemas, and by 
his son, Marcus B. 

Hexuy Woods. — Joseph French was the 
owner and occupant as early as 1780. He was in 
the Concord settlement in 1764, and had Samuel, 
Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret, and Jona- 
than, born between 1676 and 1690. (Shattuck.) 
The French dwelling was a garrison house in 
the early Indian wars. It was forty-two feet 
long by twenty wide, and in later years had " an 
ell " twenty by sixteen feet. The upijer story 
of the garrison projected over the lower on the 
side facing the highway, and in this pi'ojection 
were loopholes, through which the flintlock mus- 
kets could be put and discharged in time of 
attack by the Indians. The door was thicklj^ 
studded with wrought iron nails to prevent the 
Indians from splitting it. There was also a 
large iron locker upon it. The family had much 
trouble from the natives, and when employed on 
back lots kept a musket near at hand, as the 
savages would appear from their hiding places 
without provocation. The garrison was destroyed 
in the September gale of 1815. 

The " ell " was built in 1693 to accommodate 
a daughter, who married Richard Wheeler. 
Joseph French, Sr., died in 1732. He provided 
by will for his wife. With other articles of 
produce from the farm, she was to have five 
barrels of cider annually. Joseph French, Jr., 
proved an unfaithful executor of his father's 
will, and years were spent in litigation. The 
Woolley possession came through the marriage 
of Siimuel with a daughter of Joseph French. 

Samuel French died in 1738, without issue, 
having bequeathed his share of the estate to 
relatives, and made provision for gravestones 
for his parents as well as himself. Richard 
Wheeler sold his share to Jonathan, brother of 



Sanuiel Woolley. The Woolley brothers carried 
on the farm together. Jonathan was a giant in 
stature ; he was killed by falling into a hole 
in the vicinity of the Virginia road. His share 
of the estate was divided between his brotliers 
and sisters. Mary, one of them, wlio married 
Josiah Davis, had set off to her the land on 
which the " red house " was located about 1767. 
The Davis share was sold in 1791 to Edward 
Carey, son of Rebecca French, and by him sold 
to Oliver Reed, Jr.. in 1795. By a deed of Dec. 
18, 1731, Joseph French, Jr., gave to Rebecca 
Carey, his daughter, " one acre of upland and 
orchard with one-half of the house, standing 
upon a part of two acres of upland convej'ed to 
him by his father ; " and French sold in 1732 to 
James Carey, " about one-half acre of land and 
half a malt-house standing thereon." Samuel 
Woolley became the possessor of a large share 
of the estate, on which he spent his life. He 
was a prominent man of the town for forty 
years, was often entrusted with the care of the 
estates of widows and orphans. Samuel Hartwell 
married Sarah Woolley, and they sold to Oliver 
Reed in 1785. Thus the whole estate became 
the property of the Reed family, and remained 
in the name until sold to Heriry Wood by the 
heirs of Nathan 0. Reed, who were of the fourth 
generation in possession. Mr. Wood erected 
the mansion house. 

Three names that are found in the early tax 
records of the town are traced to this farm, viz., 
Benjamin Colburn, who married Elizabeth AVool- 
ley, William Colburn, who married Margaret 
Woolley, and James Carey, who married Rebecca 
French. Carey was a Xantucket merchant. 

Miss Abby L. Hartwei.l. — This was built by 
Jonathan Bacon at the beginning of the century. 
The next owner was John 3Ierriam, Esq. Then 
followed Dea. Amos Hartwell, and the present 
owner and occupant. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Hartwell. — This was a 
portion of the estate of John Merriam, Esq. 
Inherited by daughter Susan, wife of Dr. A. B. 
Adams. Sold by Adams to Joseph Hartwell 
about 1865. 

Dudley Hartford. — liuilt by John Mer- 
riam, Esq., and occupied by son John Agustus, 
who inherited the estate from his father. Sold 
by him, and has passed through several names 
to the present. 

Mrs. Eliza Webber and ilr. Hiram Reed. — 
The east end of the house was the first school- 
house built in the South district, added to and 
completed by Elbridge Bacon. 

AVebber Avexve. — As the career of Joshua 
Page marked an important epoch in the develop- 



lOG 



BEDFORD. 



ment of tlie village in the first quarter of the 
nineteenth century, so that of Wallace G. Web- 
ber marks one in the last quarter of the century. 
In 1886 lie bought a field of the heirs of Dea. P. 
W. Chamberlin, built a street through the centre, 
laid out the land into building lots, and offered in- 
ducements to parties desiring to establish homes. 
Webber Avenue and the houses upon it, with the 
factory and dwelling on Loomis street, are the 
result of this opening enterjirise. He later bought 
a portion of the Keed, Stiles, Lawrence estate, 
built Hillside Avenue, aud opened up the land for 
building on which his stable stands, having pre- 
viously built his house and established a home 
on Main street. Other results of his enterprise 
are to be seen on South street. 

Old Sites. — Beyond the Springs, and now 
included in that estate, was the Abbott home- 
stead. Moses Abbott married Mary Hill in 1755, 
and probably located here and became the found- 
ers of the influential family of that name in this 
town for a century. It is very probable that Obed 
and Elizabeth settled here about 1725, and that 
their son Moses was born here, in January, 1727-8. 
It had been owned by Hezekiah Hutchinson and 
Elijah Hill. Franklin Stearns and Sally Lane 
married in 1828, and settled here. It passed 
through different names to Joseph Brown, sold 
by his sou Moses and widow Rachel to Dr. W. 
R. Haydeu, about ISGO. 

In the field nearly opposite the home of Peter 
Kelly, in South Bedford, was the Samuel Mer- 
riam homestead. In the same locality, on the 
John Merriam estate, was the Trask home. 

Henry Smith's harness-shop is on the site of 
a brick-end house owned bj- Da^'id Lane and 
Thomas Goodwin. 

The home of Michael McMahan is on the site 
of the Porter homestead. It was a prominent 
estate, and owned by a leading family about 
17G0. Joseph Porter died here July, 1770. 

On the Amos Huunewell farm may be seen 
two cellar depressions. On one stood a house 
that was moved to the site of the Crosby house. 
It was a very strong building with brick-lined 
walls. 

In the " Neck Field " near Concord river, on 
a portion of the Winthrop farm, is the cellar of 
an estate known as the Simon ds lot. 

On the south of Concord street was John 
Hosmer's house at the opening of the present 
century. 

"Saul Bacon's" house was on the north side of 
Pine Hill road, on the Henry Jefts portion of 
the Squadron division of 1707. The Bacon farm 
was purchased by Oliver Pollard early in the 
century, and the house, which must ha^^e been 



built before the Squadron division, was demol- 
ished. 

In the east quarter, near the junction of the 
Lexington, Burlington, and Bedford bounds was 
the Kendall homestead. 

On the right hand side of the street in going 
from the village to Hosmer and Muzzy's stood 
the Bacon dwelling. A little north of the Hos- 
mer aud Muzzy house, on the right hand side of 
the road, was the Blood dwelling ; and between 
Josiah Davis' dwelling and the river was another 
Blood dwelling. The later estate was purchased 
by Davis and Fitch. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

Sketches of the Clergymen wlio have Succeeded liev. Samuel Stearns 
as Pastor of the Church of Christ and TrinUarkiu Congrega- 
tional Society, in their Order of Service. 



Rev. Joxathan Leavitt, son of Roswell 
Leavitt and Dorothy Ashley, was born at Cor- 
nish, N.H., Oct. 21, 1800. He fitted for college 
at Meriden, N.H., and graduated as valedicto- 
rian of his class at Amherst College in 1825, 
and studied theology at Andover Seminary. 
He went to South Carolina, making the jovir- 
ney from his native town on horseback. He 
preached for a time at Pendletou, S.C., and then 
returned, and labored as minister at Acworth, 
N.H., and at Waltham, Mass., and settled as the 
immediate successor of Rev. Samuel Stearns, at 
Bedford, Jan. 11, 1837, where he ministered 
until Oct. 12, 1840, when he was dismissed to 
enter upon a broader field of labor at Provi- 
dence, R. I., and there remained as pastor of 
Richmond Street Church a quarter of a century, 
when his health failed, and he resigned. One 
who knew him as a preacher says of him: "He 
preached without notes, he was very scri^jtural 
and very spiritual, his figure was striking, his 
voice clear and admirable in modulation, his ser- 
monizing original and of a high order; often he 
was mystical, very often thrillingly eloquent. 
He was an effective preacher in saving men 
and women. He belonged to a type which has 
largely disappeared." The students of Brown 
University were attracted to his church, and 
many were regular worshippers with his peoide. 
Amherst College, of which he was a trustee in 
1855, honored him, in 1863, with the degree of 
D.D., which he declined, as a matter of con- 
science, as he had previously declined the offer 
of a professorship. He married, Oct. 10, 1837, 
Charlotte Esther, daughter of Rev. Samuel 
Stearns, his predecessor in the Bedford minis- 
try. She died Feb. 27, 1860. He died Oct. 7, 



BEDFORD. 



107 



1X77. CliiUlieii: Etlwurd Clialuicrs, born JIarcli 
9, 1842, a proiniiient artist in Providenci'. K.I. ; 
Charlotte Elizabeth, born iSIarch 4. IJSIC). who 
married p]<lwar(l E. Sloeuni, of Providence. 

Rev. Samuel Hoiikins Enierj is of tlie seventh 
generation in this country. The immigrant an- 
cestor was John, who came, with a brother, An- 
thony, in the ship ■•James," from England, and 
settled at Newbury in 1035. Samuel was born 
at Boxford, Mass., Aug. 22, 1815, son of Joshua 
and Elizabeth (Weleh) Emery. He entered Phil- 
lips Aeademy at the age of eight years. John 
Adams was then principal. Erom there he en- 
tered Amherst College, as sophomore, at the age 
of sixteen, and graduated in 18,'54, with the second 
appointment of salutatory in Latin, in the class 
with Henry Ward ISeecher. He completed a 
course at Andover Theological Seminary in 1S.'57; 
and was immediately settled as pastor of a new 
church in Tavinton, Mass., where he labored until 
January, 1841. He was installed at Bedford 
as the immediate successor of Rev. Jonathan 
Leavitt, who had been called to Providence, R.I. 
His pastorate in this town, of four and a half 
years, was during the ardor of his youth in the 
ministry, and the beneficent impressions nuvde 
are still manifest. His ability, then a])]iarent. 
has strengthened during the almost half century 



cations. He has been president of the Old 
Colony Historical Society for many years. He 
married, March 7, 18.'5S, Julia, daughter of Hon. 
William Reed, of Taunton. She had been jjupil 
and teacher in Ipswich Female Seminary. Chil- 
dren : William Reed, died young ; Samuel Hop- 
kins, graduate of Harvard law school, a manu- 
facturer in Quincy, 111.; Francis Walcott Reed, 
in business in Taunton; Joseph Wehdi. a manu- 
facturer in Quincy, 111. 

Rev. Oren Sikes son of Jonathan and Cyrena 
Sikes, was born at Ludlow, Mass., Oct. 26, 1805. 
He was educated at Monstni Academy and Ban- 
gor Theological Seminary, and was ordained and 
installed at Union, Me., .huie 8, 18.'51. He w'as 
installed at Mercer, Me., Jan. ;?0, 18o.'>, and at 
Bedford, June .'!, 1846, where he continued to 
preach until his death, Dec. 15, 1852. " Ortho- 
dox in his doctrinal belief, an able and faithful 
preacher, a wise and affectionate pastor, a good 
citizen, a godly man.'' He married, Nov. 4, 
18.'52, Julia Knox, daughter of Eben and Luc.y 
Knox Thatcher, of Thomaston, Me. She died 
Oct. 19, 1851. Children: Oren C, died Sept. 14, 
1879; Julia C, married Rev. William F. Bacon, 
died Feb. 19, 1859; Catherine 1'.. married ]Milton 
A. Fowler, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. ; Henry K., of 
Peoria. 111.: C;iroline E. 11.. died in infancv. 



(f^ue.^.^^^yyf'l^^. <:^c^^ 3- ^f^ ^^ 



<^<^i 



;£, Ory^^^t— < 






Si^^L^^J^'^^-^ 




(^ 



"O^— t--^_jff 



that ha.s elapsed since he closed his pastorate in 
this town. He was recalled to the Taunton 
church, thence to Quincy, 111., and was for a 
time at Chicago, I'rovidence, K.I., Bridgeport, 
Conn., and North -Middleboro, Mass. He was 
called to the superintendence of the charity 
work of Taunton by a committee representing 
all of the churches of that city, and luis spent 
fourteen years in that service. He was a repre- 
sentative to the Legislature in 1890 and 1891 
from Taunton, being both years a member of 
the committee on education and House chair- 
man of the committee on i)arishes and religious 
societies. He is an authority on historical and 
genealogical work, being the author of ■• The 
Ministry of T.aunton." ;ind other similar i)ubli- 



Rev. Ih'ury .Inlinsou P:itrick. son of Rev. Jo- 
seph H. and .Mary Patrick, was born in Warren. 
Sept. 20, 1827, and prepared for college at Warren, 
\Yilbraham, and Amherst; graduated from Am- 
herst College in 1848, and from Andover Theo- 
logical Seminary in 185.S ; licensed to preach 
April 1, 185.'!; settled as ]iastor at Bedford, 
Nov. 16, 1854; dismissed Aug. 28, 1860, and 
installed at West Xewton, Sej)t. 26, 18()0, where 
he has since labored. During his pastorate in 
this town he was a representative to the Gen- 
eral Court (1857-8). He was a delegate of the 
Christian Commission in the army of the Roto- 
mac, at City Point, 1865, and travelled abroad 
during the summer of 1886. He was honored 
with tlie degree of D.D. bv Amherst College in 



108 



BEDFORD. 



1890. He married, Sept. 13, 1860, ]SIartha A., 
daughter of Rev. Aretas Loomis, of Bennington, 
Vt. They have five children. 

Rev. William J. Batt, son of Richard W. and 
Laura (Bliss) Batt, was born in Fall River, Oct. 5, 
1834. He was educated at Brown University, 
class of 1855, and Andover Theological Semi- 
nary, class of 1858. He was ordained to the 
ministry in Stonehani, in 1859, from which time 
he was pastor there until 1861, when he was in- 
vited to the Church of Christ in Bedford, where 
he labored four years. His ministry here in- 
eluded the trying period of the Civil War, and 
his services were with the entire Protestant 
community, worship being steadily held in but 
one church. He was installed at Leominster in 
1865. After a residence there of ten years, he 
was recalled to Stoneham, where he remained 
ten years. Resigning in 1885, he accepted the 
position of chaplain of the Massachusetts Re- 
formatory, where he is still a faithful laborer 
for the good of his fellow men. He married, 
Oct. 5, 1859, Mary D. Davol, of Fall River. She 
died Dec. 30, 1871). Children: William M., born 
Jan. 22, 1861; Mary Davol, born May 30, 1863; 
Arthur L., born June 10, 1865, and died July 2, 
1870 ; Florence W., born Feb. 28, 18(57, and 
died May 19, 1874 ; Ahnira Laura, born May 6, 
1869. 

Rev. George Lewis, son of Lotlirop Lewis, was 
born in Bridgton, Me., Jan. 21, 1839. He was 
educated in the Academy of his native town and 
Bangor Theological Seminary. He was ordained 
at Bedford, Dec. 13, 1865, and installed as pastor 
of the Church of Christ of the town at the same 
service. His ministry was rendered brief on 
account of ill health, and he was dismissed Nov. 
14, 1867. He was later settled in Alfred, Me., 
and is now jjastor at South Berwick, Me., where 
he has been for many years. He married, Nov. 
29, 1S65, Katharine B. L. McLellare, of Maine. 

Rev. Edward Chase was born Oct. 9, 1836; 
educated at Union College, Maine, and Andover 
Theological Seminary, and ordained at Portland, 
Me. in 1863. He was installed as pastor in this 
town Feb. 17, 1869, and dismissed ^March 17, 
1875. He is now settled at Hallowell, Me., 
having had a previous jaastorate at Biddeford, 
Me. He married, JIarch 10, 1869, Sarah Brooks. 
Children: Charles Coes, born April 26, 1870; 
Martha H., born May 4, 1874; Sarah B., born 
June 20, 1880, and died Dec. 26, 1890. 

Rev. Otis D. Crawford, second son of Hon. 
James Crawford, of Dubuque, la., and Mary 
Bellows Dickinson, grandaughter of Col. Caleb 
Bellows', after whom Bellows Falls, Vt., was 
named, was born Feb. 5, 1842. His father died 



in 1846, and he was educated in occasional 
schools and in a general store in Maquoketa, 
la., in Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, N.H., 
Iowa College, and at Chicago Theological Semi- 
nary, where he took a full course, and graduated 
in 1872. This was supplemented by a tliree 
months course at Oberlin. under President Fin- 
ney, and at Andover Theolog cal Seminary in 
the winter of 1876-7, under Professors Park 
and Phelps. He was ordained Nov. 1, 1872, 
and entered upon home missionary work in his 
native state. He was settled at Hampton, la., 
for two years, and in Sunderland, Mass., in tlie 
winter of 1874—5. He became acting pastor 
at Bedford, Aug. 1, 1875, and remained until 
Nov. 1, 1876, since which time he has labored 
in the South and West. His work is that of 
a revivalist, in which he has been abundantly 
blessed. His term of service in the Soutli was 
spent at Mobile, Ala., where he had charge of 
Emerson Institute, and at New (Orleans, where 
he superintended the erection of Whitin Hall 
for Straight University. Mr. Crawford enlisted 
in Company A, Ninth Regiment, of Iowa Volun- 
teer Infantry, Aug. 9. LSIil, for three years or 
during the war. His regiment was mustered 
into service Sept. 24, 1861. The field of opera- 
tion was the Mississippi Valley, and he was 
engaged in battles at Pea Ridge, Ark., Bayou 
Cashe, Chickasaw Bluffs, outpost of Vickburg, 
Arkansas Post, Jackson, ]\Iiss., and Vicksburg. 
In General Sherman's corps, at the last place, 
he was wounded in an assault u]ion the works. 
May 22, 1863. He suffered from an ojien wound 
in the shoulder for thirteen months, which pre- 
vented him from re-enlisting, and he was dis- 
charged Sept. 24, 1864, and granted a jjension. 
He was corporal in the color guard, and as such, 
at the engagement where he received his wound, 
was able to save the standard which had been 
presented to the "Greyhound Regiment" by the 
ladies of Boston. He married, Sept. 1. 1874, 
Clara M. Wood, a native of Swansea, Mass. 
Child : Lulu Addie, born Jan. 9, 1878. 

Rev. George Edwards Lovejoy, son of John 
H. and Sally (Grout) Lovejoy, was born in Brad- 
ford, June 30, 1843. His early education was 
obtained in the public schools of his native 
town and in various academies. His plans for 
life were interfered with by the Civil War. He 
enlisted as a private in August, 1862, being as- 
signed to the Twenty -second Massachusetts Reg- 
iment, First Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army 
Corps. He remained a member of this regiment 
until it was mustered out of service, when, hav- 
ing re-enlisted, he was transferred to the thirty- 
second regiment, with which he was connected 



BEDFORD. 



109 



until the close of the \vm\ He ]);u'tici]);ite(l in the 
battles of Antietam, Shepardstown, Chancellors- 
ville, Kappahannoek .Station. Gettysburi,', Cold 
Harbor, and Petersburg, where his regiment was 
distinguished for its services. In l.SliS he began 
special preparations for the gos])e| luinistrv, and 
completed a course at Andover Theological Sem- 
inary in 187.S. He wa.s ordained and installed 
as pastor of the Congregational Church nf Can- 
dia, N. H., July Ki, 1S7.'^, where Ih' ri'mained 
until the spring of 1877, and on the I2th of the 
following September was installed as pastor of 
the Church of Christ of Heilfoi'd. While liei'e 
the town and churcdi celebrated their one liun- 
dred and fiftieth anniversary. His sermon, com- 
memorative of the organization of the latter, was 
publislied by the re(|uest of the people, and is a 
valuable contribution to local history. He re- 
signed at Bedford, to accept a call to the First 
Congregational Church of Franklin, where lie 
was installed Dec. 8. 1880, and labored with 
marked success until the summer of 181)1, when 
he accej)ted a call to Oak Park Church, ^linne- 
apolis, iMinn. He married, May 1, 18()7, Mary 
L. Sinclair, of Lowell. 

Rev. Howard A. Hanaford, son of Dr. T. H. 
and Rev. Mrs. P. .\. Hanaford, was born at 
Nantucket town, Dec. .SI, ISol, and educated at 
Dean Academy, Autioch College, Ohio, and Tufts 
Theological School. He was ordained at Well- 
Heet, as a Universalist. .\i)ril 22, 1874, and en- 



tered the Congregegational ministry December, 
1877. He was acting pastor in his native town 
for two years, and settled in Bedford, in April, 
1881. He labored until the autumn of 1885, 
when he resigned, and accepted an acting pas- 
torate at IMiddleboro, where he remained until 
1888. and was then settled over the First Church 
of Winchester, N.H. He is prominent in the 
Masonic fraternity. He married, Nov. 4, 1874, 
Mary W. Landerkin. Children : Charles Leon- 
ard, l)orn Aug. 10, 187."'>; Maria Mitcliell. born 
July 10, 188()' 

Rev; Edwin Smith, son of Henry Dearl)(un 
Smith and Clarissa Soule, was born in Sea.rsport, 
Me. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1861. 
and at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1864. 
He was ordained and installed at Lynn, !Mass., 
Chestnut Street Church, Jan. 11, 186"), where he 
remained until 1868. His subsequent parishes 
have been Barre, 1868-79 ; Braintree, 1879-82 ; 
{ Maynard, 1882-G. His ministrations at Bedford 
began August. 1886. He married, Dec. 29, 1864, 
Amanda S. Manson, a graduate of Bates College. 
Children: Edwin Ray, born Nov. 25, 1865; Annie 
I Manson, born Aug. 11, 1868; Amy Lillian, born 
1 Dec. 14, 1870, and died Nov. 2, 1876; Melville 
Henry, born Oct. 12, 1880. The twenty-fifth 
anniversarj- of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs.. 
Smith was made an occasion of great interest 
l)y his people at Bedford. 



SUPPLEMENTARY. 



Si.\cKChai).VLof this his- 
tory was printed changes 
have taken i)laee, mate- 
rially affecting the educa- 
tional, social, and industrial 
relations of the town, and 
this chapter, which we en- 
deavored to guard against, 
becomes necessary. 

A committee, then at 
work, re])orted to the town 
at a legal meeting held on 




ommending the immediate erection of 



dan. 24, 1891, rec- 
i school 

house. The town then voted to proceed to build 
a suitable house to accomnu)(late all of the schools 
of the town. An aj)propriation of S10,000 was 
made for the jiurpose of procuring a site and 
erectin,g the building. This was the first in- 
stance in the town's history when a vote to build 
a school house of any size or kind was obtained 
at tlie first meeting held for the purpose. The 
building committee consisted of Wallace (). Wel> 



UNION SCHOOL HOUSE. 

lier, Oliver J. Lane, Wallace A. Calef, Rev. Ed- 
win Smith, and Edwin H. Blake. The work was 
judiciously done, and the Union School House 
was completed in 1891. 

The following record of appropriations for 
public schools shows the gradual growth of the 
town : 1732, £5; 1733, £11 6s. 9f/, ; 1734, €11 ; 
1743, £30; 1758, £20; 1797, S300; 1798-9, 
8250 each ; 1800-1, 8300 ; 1802, S200 ; 1803 4, 
§300; 180.5-6,8330; 1807.8600; 1808-11,8400; 
1812. 8.300; 1813-17, .§400; 1818-19, 8500; 



110 



BEDFORD. 



1820-1,8400; 1S2l'-L",), .S4.")(): 183(1. S.S<»() ; 1831, 
8490; 18;;2-34, S4."')0 ; lS.".."i. Sr.l'O; lS3«i-44, 8<;00; 
184;-). $700; 184«. 8(J0O ; 1X47-51. 8800; 18r)2, 
$875; 1853.8900; 1854,8800; 1855,8860; 185G 
-00.81000; 1801-04,81100; 18(;5. 81200; 1860 
-7O.81.">00; 1871-74,81600; 1875. 8170(i; 1876. 
S1800; 1877,82000; 1878-1880,81800. 

In 1881 the State law ivcj^uired each town to 
furnish text-books and all supplies, henee the 
apiu'opriation ot that and subsequent years has 
been increased in sums r;ingin!;' from 8200 to 
8250 for the purpose. 1881-2. 82000 ; 1884, 
S202ii; 1885. S250;); 1886,82800; 1887.82750; 
1888,85450; 1889, 83050; 1890,82,750. 

From 1837 to 1861 the town received its pro- 
portiini of the income of the Surplus Revenue 
Fund. The income of the State School Fund 
was first received in 1835. The revenue from 
the Dog Tax has some years been voted to 
schools, but usually it has gone to the use of the 
Free Public Library Corporation. 

Bedford united with five neighboring towns 
in 1890 in forming a district lor sui)ervision, 
and thus secured sjiecial aid from the Stat-'. 
George JM. AVa Isworth was made su[)ervisor. 



The Bedford House Association alluded to in 
Chapter X\'l. has ni:i,de extensive alterations 
and improvements in the hotel property, greatly 
benefitting the town. 



The wt)od-working fai-tory alluded to in Chap- 
ter XV. has undergone a radical change. A 
corporation has lieen formed under the laws of 
Massachusetts, and The ISeilford Lumber and 
Mdniifdrturiiii/ Compunij was chartered May 28, 
1891.' 

It has a (•apit;d of 825,000. The comjjany is 
chartered "for the jiurjiose oi buying, selling 
and manufacturing all kinds of lumber and arti- 
cles made of or from lumber in whole or in part, 
and also all articles and nuiterials used in build- 
ing and furnishing houses and other buildings, 
and also of painting and glazing." 

The officers are : President. Wallace G. Web- 
ber ; Treasurer, Wallace A. Calef ; Secretary, 
Charles E. Park. 

The facilities of the corporation are ample. 
Fifty people are constantly em])loyed, and the 
largest industrial interest ever established in 
tins town had its beginning in 1891. 




MINKKAI. Sl'KlNC .IKiiN 



Av ncdl.ir<i Springs, ilt^scribed in Chai)ter XVI , improveiiieiits are now. .August, l.sjil. being inaile, 
\vlii<-li ciiliinu'e tlu- vaUie of tlie la-opfrty, ami ad I In thu iutcrt-st of the town. 



03 

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O 
3] 
o 



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©tucalogical aub Biograpl)icaL 



In adding the following chapters of family history no 
claim is made to completeness. The object has been to 
arrange in a readable manner all the obtainable facts. If 
items are recorded that seem of no special value, the chief 
object of their introduction has been to break the monot- 
ony of a register of vital statistics. 

The plan at first was to introduce only those families 
that represented the founders of the town and those that 
came early, and only such when they had interests of long 
standing. After more mature consideration, it seemed best 
to extend the privilege, and the following letter was sent 
into each family : — 

The history of Bedford, with genealogical sltetcheB of families 
and biographical notes, is soon to l)e completed. If you desire 
your family register inserted, you will please furnish the data at 
once. If you wish space for illustration, together with sixty-five 
natives of Bedford who have alreaiiy oniered, you will give it 
your inimettiate attention. 

Failing to do so before Jan. 20, 1891, may necessitate the omis- 
sion of your family, in which event you can h.ave no reasonable 
cause for complaint. 

All conniiunicatious should be atldressed to — 

ABRAM ENGLLSH BEOWN, 

Bedford, Mass. 

When branches of families have ceased to be identified 
with the interests of the town, they have been omitted, 
unless the data have been supplied by interested parties. 
In many instances the absence of records or other informa- 
tion has made it impossible to present any connected or 
intelligent account. 

It is hoped that those who have passed unheeded the 
printed invitations to furnish family records, and have left 
their promises unfulfilled, will charitably overlook not a 
few of the omissions and incomplete registers. 

The author of this work trusts that the substance will be 
found of value. 

These chapters are the result of much labor and an.xious 
investigation, and will have served their purpose if they 
arouse any one of the present or of a future generation to 
emulate the virtues of their ancestors or to shun their 
vices. 

With a hope that they may be helpful to some one better 
qualified to compile this branch of history, they are added 
as fragmentary records. 

" What more precious testimonial of your love of kindred 
and home can you leave than that which provides for the 
transmission of the history of your ancestors, yourself and 
family, to future generations .' " — Hon. Marshall P. Wilder. 



Explanations and Abbreviations. 

We have tried to be systematic in these registers, but in 
some instances a deviation will be noticed. 

We first give some note on the origin of the family in 
this country, and earlier if known. 

The surname is given when introducing the family, and 
printed in full-face capitals, and only repeated when a bio- 
graphical note is appended to the family register. 

When a man's name is introduced as the head of a 
family it is given in full-face type, and is accompanied with 
date of marriage, name of wife, and date of death of each, 
as the case may be. 

Then follows the register of births, children's names 
being in italics. If a son is recorded later as the head of 
a family, a full face h is placed at the left. When not so 
recorded, the register is completed. The descendants of 
daughters are not traced unless they are found as heads of 
other families. When one is to be found with another 
family the name of husband is given as a guide. 

When a daughter is not to appear through union with 
some other family recorded in this volume, her marriage, 
place of residence, etc., if known, are added to the record 
of her birth. 

A dash between records of families having a common 
surname indicates the kinship as remote or not trace- 
able, /. e. : — 



John Clark, 



Peter Clark, , 



The Arabic figures represent the generation in this coun- 
try; in cases where they are omitted, it was not possible 
to obtain them. 

Abbreviations: b., born; bap., baptized; ch., child or 
children. ;d., died; dau., daughter; gr.-dau., granddaugh- 
ter; m., married ; q. v., which see. 

When no state is designated, Massachusetts is under- 
stood. 



ABBOT, or ABBOTT, George,i with sons, George,^ 
Nehemiah,- and Thomas," was from England. Georgei d. 
in Rowley, in 1647. George- m. Sarah Farnum, settled in 
Andover. Had 10 ch. He d. 17 19, aged 92; she d. 1728, 
aged 90. George' m. 16S9, Elizabeth Ballard; ni. 2d, Han- 
nah Esty. Had 9 ch. 

Obcd,* son of George,^ a weaver from Salem, bought a 
farm of Nathaniel Hudson in Sept. 1725, and settled in the 



Abbott. 



Bacon. 



southerly part of BiUerica, now Kedford. It is included in 
Bedford Springs. He was prominent in forming the town 
and church, small in stature, and of great physical power. 

He m. Elizabeth , and d. May ii, 1773; she d. May 29, 

1752. Ch. \\ Alosfsfi b. Jan. 13, 1727. Sarah, b. April 22, 
1729, m. Feb. 11, 1748, Isaac Stearns of Billerica. Eliza- 
beth, b. Mar. 16, 1731, m. Dec. 9, 1756, Abijah Cutler of 
Brookfield. /ohn,^ b. Feb. 4, 1733. Mary, b. Feb. 16, 1745, 
m. Daniel I'arker of Heading. 

Moses^ (Capt.), known as Solid Abbott, was 1st Lieut, 
of Beilferd Minute Men, and lived on the homestead. He 
m. April 15, 1755, Mai'y Hi" of Billerica. He d. May 22, 
1809; she d. Sept. 5, 1801. Ch. Betty, b. July 12, 1757, m. 
Oliver Reed. Johii,<^ b. May 29, 1759. laMoses,^ b. Sept. 
21, 1761. /eirmiah,^ b. Nov. 23, 1763, settled in Groton. 
Benjamin,'^ b. Feb. 9, 1766, d. May 21, 1793. Mary, b. July 
2, 176S, m. May 10, 1791, William Webber. 

Moses/ m. Dec. 7, 1786, Alice Stearns, d. Feb. 19, 1802. 
Had 6 ch. d. young, and Alice, b. Sept. 22, 178S. Lticy 
Stearns, b. Feb. 11, 1792. \\_ Moscs^' b. Aug. 16, 1795. 
h Oliver HJ b. Mar. 26, 1800. 

Moses," ni. June 22, 1820, Susanna Jaquith, d. July, 1836. 
Ch. Stisaii Caroline, b. Oct. S, 1S20, m. Seth Austin. Moses 
G.8 b. June 5, 1S22. Charles Echuiti^ b. Feb. 24, 1824. John 
Henry,^ b. Aug. 16, 1825. Sylvester Kf' b. Dec. 9, 1S31, d. 
June 14, 1S90. Anna L. b. May 24, 1834, d. Mar. 17, 1883. 

Oliver R." m. Mary A. Wilson ; m. 2d, Mary A. Buttrick. 
He d. Sept. 11, 1S42; she d. Dec. 26, 1825. 

ASHBY, William M. from England, settled in Bed- 
ford, 1S47 ; manufactured sashes and blinds on Vine Brook ; 
went to California in 1S4S; later purchased the Fitch Mill, 
and there conducted business till his death in Nov. 1S72. 
He m. May 4, 1845, Eunice M. Butterfield. Ch. Emma F. 
b. Oct 16, 1847, m. Joseph A. Goodwin. 

BACON. The name has been prominent in the terri- 
tory comprising this town for more than two hundred 
years, and, at times, — with the exception of Lane and 
Hartwell, — the most numerous. 

Michael! was the immigrant ancestor. He went from 
the north of England to the north of Ireland about 1633, 
and came to this country about seven years later, settling 
in Dedham about 1640. He was accompanied by his wife, 
three sons, — Michael,- Daniel,- and John,- — and a daugh- 
ter, Sarah. The children are all mentioned in a will dated 
at Dedham, "14 — 2 — 1648." His wife died in 1647, and 
he in 164S. 

Michael,- with wife from Ireland, seems to have set- 
tled at first in Charlestown ; for there, on Dec. iS, 1640, he 
was a petitioner for the proposed town of Woburn, and 
became one of the original inhabitants. He was chosen, 
April 13, 1644, surveyor of highways. Frothingham, in the 
history of Charlestown, gives a list of the inhabitants of 
that town between 1630 and 1640, and as the name Bacon 
does not appear, it is probable that Michael^ came to 
Charlestown late in 1640. In a mortgage received June 8, 
1675, he is alluded to as a citizen of Billerica. In August, 
1675, the town of Billerica, when providing defense against 
the Indians in Philip's war, assigned Michael Bacon to 
garrison " No. 10," under command of Timothy Brooks. 
Mary, the first wife of Michael,'- d. Aug. 26, 1655. '"'^ 
then married Mary Richardson of Woburn (Sewall's his- 
tory) ; she d. May 19, 1670. He married, 3d, Nov. 28, 
1670, Mary Noyes. One of the children of Michael- was 
Michael? b. about 1640. 



Michael,^ m. Mar. 22, i66o, Sarah Richardson of Wo- 
burn, who d. Aug. 15, 1694. He d. Aug-. 13, 1707. They 
had ten children, some of whom were born in Woburn. 

Michael Bacon — probably MichaeP — purchased the Rev. 
Mr. Mitchell farm of 500 acres in July, 1682, for ^^200. 
This farm was a grant by Cambridge to their minister, 
in 1652. It was situated on the Shawshine River, and 
included the mill, and was known for many years as " the 
Bacon homestead." Michael^ was an occupant before the 
purchase, and had a mill before 1675. Paig^i '" history 
of Cambridge, has the following : " Michael Bacon of 
Woburn bought of Rodger Shaw a farm in the north- 
westly part of Cambridge (now Bedford), including all the 
meadow adjoining to the great swamp near the east corner 
of Concord bounds that falls to Cambridge." 

The numerous family of Bacon, prominent in the history 
of Bedford, have almost all descended from Michael,^ 
through Jonathan'' and Benjamin.'' The early exceptions 
were children of Nathaniel, Josiah, and Joseph, sons of 
Michael,^ q. v. One hundred descendants of Michael,^ of 
the name of Bacon, are recorded here previous to 1S22, 
and probably as many descendants of the daughters. In 
the tax-list of 1743 there are eight Bacons, six of them 
owning real estate. The " Bacon house," still standing, is 
thought to have been built by Michael,3 in the latter part 
of the seventeenth century. Six later generations of the 
family — in five of which were Benjamins — have been 
born or lived in that house. (See frontispiece.) 

Among other estimable traits of the Bacons, a notable 
one has been their musical talent, manifested during the 
entire history of this town. Many of this name and their 
descendants have been prominently identified with vocal 
or instrumental music. 

Jouathau,'' 2d son of Michael,^ b. July 14, 1762, m. Jan. 
3, 1694, Elizabeth Giles, who d. in 1738; m. 2d, Sept. 22, 
1739, Elizabeth (Hancock) Wyman. He d. Jan. 12, 1754. 
(See epitaph.) Ch. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 26, 1695. Sarah, b. 
Dec. 25, 1696, m. Israel Putnam. Anna, d. young. Jona- 
than,^ b. Dec. 18, 1700, m. Ruth , and had William.s 

who d. young. Mary, b. Sept. 18, 1702. Breget, b. Jan. 5, 
1706-7. (See epitaph.) Anna, b. Aug. 19, 1709. 

Jonathan Bacon^ was a man of prominence in Billerica, 
although living far from the centre of the seitlement. In 
1699 he was approved by the selectmen " to sell victuals 
and drink." It was ordered by the "Great and General 
Court," in 1705, that Jonathan Bacon and others should 
have proportionable shares with other common proprie- 
tors and inhabitants of Billerica in all future divisions of 
undivided and waste lands belonging to the town, accord- 
ing to their proportion of the town charges for the last 
seven years. Jonathan, with two brothers, was in the 
Indian wars with " Mager Lane," in 1706. When the 
town assigned the schoolmaster to the different sections, 
in 1722, he was to go "one month to Jonathan Bacons." 
Jonathan'' and brother, Josiah, protested against certain 
proceedings of the town in 17 10. He represented the 
town of Billerica at the "Great and General Court" in 
1726, and was selectman in 1719 and 1727. He was promi- 
nent in the petition to secure the formation of the town of 
Bedford. As a "principal inhabitanc," he was appointed 
to assemble the people in the first town meeting, Oct. 6, 
1729, at which time he was chosen one of the selectmen. 
(See frontispiece and epitaph.) Benjamin,'' already men- 
tioned as the son of Michael,' — who, with Jonathan,^ be- 



Bacon. 



Bacon. 



came the li -.lbs of the ancestral tree to continue the promi- 
nence of the family in this town, — was the son to remain 
on the homestead. He, with brother, Joseph,^ had land 
deeded by Michael,^ their father, in 1704, deed not recorded 
until 1710. 

Keujnmill,'* son of Michael,^ was born about 1688, m. 
Dec. 2, 1712, .\bigail Taylor of Concord, d. 1727 (tomb- 
stone, Billcrica yard). C'h. \\ Benjamin^ b. Dec. 6, 1713. 
\\Johit;' b. June i6, 1716. Abigixil, b. Sept. 25, 1718, m. 
James Sinionds of Woburn. Samuel,^ b. July 21, 1721. 
Miiiy, b. ? In a will dated Nov. 25, 1727, all the chil- 
dren except Mary are mentioned, and provision made for 
a child if one should be born after the father's death. 

Benjamin,' m. Feb. 15, 1739, Catherine, dau. of Col. 
John Lane. They both d. in 1791. Had 4 ch. d. young, 
ll Benjainin^ b. 1741. Elijah^ b. 1754, m. Amittai Lane, d. 
1 788. 

Henjaniin liacon^ was a deacon of Bedford Church from 
1759 till his death in I79f. In 1784 he deeded one-half of 
his real estate to his son Elijah. IJenjamin" and Elijah^ 
were engaged in the Concord fight. Of the twenty-si.x 
"minute men " from Bedford, at Concord fight, si.x were 
Bacons, and there vvere two in the company of militia in 
that engagement. There were nine Bacons reported as 
liable to do military duty May 15, 1775. 

Itonjuniin,° m. May 27, 1766, Esther Davis; m. 2d, 
Dec. 31, 1789, Amittai (Lane) Bacon ; m. 3d, Anna (Crosby) 
Jaquith. He d. Jan. 19, 1828. Ch. Esther, b. Mar. 24, 

1767, m. Emes. \i Benjamin'' b. May 6, 1769. 

Catherine, b. Mar. 4, 1771. m. Emes. Isaac,'' A. 

young. Jessee^ d. young. \\Step/ien^' b. Sept. 28, 1778. 

Benjamin Bacon," by marriage with the widow of his 
brother Elijah, gained possession of the half of his father's 
estate civen to Elijah," and being heir to the other half, 
became owner of the whole of the Bacon homestead, which 
at that time comprised only a part of the original Mitchell 
farn\. 

Itenjaniin,' m. Martha Preston. He d. 183S; she d. 
1834. Ch. jVjra^, b. Mar. 2, 1794, d. young. Esther Davis, 
b. July 24, 1795, '^- 1^67; ^ lifelong resident of Bedford, 
a member of the Church of Christ (Trin. Cong.), a teacher 
in first Sabbath school from its organization, active in char- 
itable works, h E/i/ah,^ h. Oct. 23, 1796. /'atty, b. 1798, 
ni. James Davis. \i Ben/amin,^ b. Jan. 13, iSoi, d. i8S8. 
Sarah, h. Jan. 5, 1803, m. William Whitford, d. 1831. /ai 
Lane,' d. young. Il /saae J'reston,* b. July 13, 1807. \iSyl- 
Tester,' b. Jan. 13, 1809. Jeremiah,' d. young. Catharine, 
b. Mar. 27, 1S16, m. John .Moses Pitch; they formerly 
resided in Bedford, but have for many years been located 
in Micliigan. 

Elijah,^ m. Jan. 26, 1S23, Mary, dau. of Elisha and 
Dolly (Smith) Watson. He d. Jan. 16, 1875. She d. Nov. 
23, 1SS6. Ch. Miiiy Elizabeth, b. June 5, 1824, m. June 4, 
1846, C. W. Bulfinch. She d. Dec. 24, 1886. Maria Esther, 
b. Mar. 20, 1827. Martha l)avis,h. Mar. 20, 1827, m. July 
2, 1855, C. n. True. Harriet Lavinia, b. Oct. 12, 1829. 
Henry Watson,^ b. July 8, 1839. 

Elijah Bacon* was born, and reared as a farmer, at the 
ancestral homestead in Bedford (see frontispiece). Pos- 
sessing inventive genius and mechanical skill, he later 
engaged successfully in the manufacture of agricultural 
implements, — notably, wrought-iron plows. As a citizen, 
he w.as highly esteemed for his sterling integrity, genial and 
sympathetic nature, and excellent judgment on all points 



connected with agriculture. He was a member of the 
Church of Christ in Bedford (Trin. Cong.) nearly fifty- 
eight years. 

Henry Watson,'-' was born in Bedford, at the home- 
stead where six generations of his ancestors had preceded 
him (see frontispiece). Ki an early age his home was 
changed to the village, where he resided during his youth. 
Dr. Bacon has long been engaged in the practice of den- 
tistry in Boston. 

Benjamin,^ son of Benj." m. Sylvania, dau. of David 
and Molly Lane. Ch. Martha Sylvania, b. July 31, 1822. 
Family then removed from town. 

Isaac Preston,** son of Benj.' m. Susanna E. dau. of 
Willard and Mary Buttrick. He d. Sept. 18, 1885; she d. 
Oct. 28, 1887. Ch. h fT/Z/wm /=-.'J b. 1834. y?//«i ^. b, 1835. 

Isaac P. BaconS was born at the ancestral homestead in 
Bedford, where he passed his early years (see frontispiece) ; 
subsequently learning the trade of wheelwright, at which he 
diligently worked until his decease. He was a man of 
genial yet positive nature, and of unswerving loyalty to his 
moral convictions. During the last eight years of his life, 
he was a deacon of the Church of Christ in Bedford (Trin. 
Cong.). A memorial window honors him in the meeting- 
house of the Trinitarian Congregational .Society. 

William F." m. Julia C. Sikes; m. 2d, Mary W. Beal. 
Ch. Fred £.w b. and d. 1861. Charles A^" b. 1862, Dart- 
mouth Col., 1883. Professor of Astronomy in Beloit Col. 
George ?>" b. 1S66, Dartmouth Col. 1SS7. Teacher. Wil- 
liam A.^" b. 1869, Dartmouth Col, 1S90. Teacher. Theo- 
dore //.!» b. 1874. Arthur A.^" h. 1875. /"^'•> ■^■, b. 1877. 
William F. Bacon,^ a Congregational minister of promi- 
nence, has been pastor at Amesbury, Mass., Laconia, N.H., 
and East Hampton, Mass. 

Sylvester,^ son of Benj.' m. July 19, 1S43, '^n" P- dau. 
of George and Rebecca (Siter) Rees. He d. Jan. 7, 1890. 
She d. .\pr. 4, 1S73. Ch. Emma, b. May 3, 1S44, d. young. 
Loiiis,^ b. Oct. 19, 1847, d. young. Hcnryfi b. Oct. 10, 
1884, d. young. Anna L. b. June 30, 1849. George R.^ b. 
May 19, 185 1. Frank f b. Oct. 23, 1S53. 

Sylvester Bacon,* was born in Bedford, and was a resi- 
dent of the town during his early years. He later engaged 
in the manufacture of marble mantels in Philadelphia, Pa., 
where he permanently resided. 

Jolin,^ son of Benj.* lived across the line in Billerica, on 
a share of the homestead. He m. in 1744 Elizabeth Stearns, 
and d. in 1760. (See epitaph.) .She m. 2d, Capt. Jonathan 
Wilson. They had eight children, of whom four d. voung, 
(see epitaphs), and Reuben,'' who was at Concord fight, d. 
May, 1775 (see Revolution). Abijah,'> b. 1754, d. May i, 
1776. h Thompson? b. Mar. 5, 1760. 

Thompson," m. Oct. 16, 1783, Marlha, dau. of John 
Hosmer and Martha Webber, and gr. dau. of Benjamin 
Webber and Susanna Whitmore. He d. 1S33; she d. 
1847. Ch. Reuben,'' d. an infant. \yJonathan, 'b. April 
15. 1785. h/o-iw,' b. Dec. 22, 1786. li Rejiben,'' b. Nov. 
25, 1788. Nancy, b. Jan. 19, 1793, m. Dec. 16, 1819, Cyrus 
Warren, d. July 28, 1876. Octa, b. Feb. 27, 1795, d. July 
28, 181 1. Thompson^ b. April, 16, 1797, in. April 17, 1821, 
Rebecca P. Porter, d. Mar. 19, 183S. Eliza, b. Oct. 4, 
1799. m. Joseph Webber, Jr. /abridge,'' b. Aug. 2, 1800, 
m. .'\pril 27, 1823, Louisa Reed, d. .Vug. 31, 1848. h Albert,'' 
b. .'\ug. 24, 1802. 

Thompson Bacon," settled on a farm south of the village. 
He was a land surveyor of skill ; his plans and charts are 



Bacon. 



Bacon. 



valuable for reference at the present time. He was a 
prominent Whig and later a Republican, and represented 
the town at the General Court in 1S12. 

Jonathan,' m. July 15, 1806, Abigail Clark. She d. 
May iS, 1857 ; he d. Aug. 2, 1S56. (See biographical 
sketch, Chap. XXI.) Ch. Twins, d. in infancy. Ahi ail, 
b. Feb. 6, 1807, m. William Ri|)ley, d. June 14, 18S0. 
Clark? b. Sept. 15, 1808, m. Emma C. Uurr, d. Mar. 5, 
1857. Frederick? b. July 13, 1811, m. Ann Robbins, d. 
July 29, 1875. Caroline, b. July 25, 1S13, m. May 14, 1S37, 
Isaac W. Ilurd. Warren,^ b. Jan. 13, 1S16, d. Jan. 22, 1832. 
Eliza Ann, b. Apr. 13, t8iS, m. Prescott J. Bigelow, d. Mar. 
29, 1S59. h Warrenf b. Nov. 30, 1822. \i Jerome Augus- 
tus,^ b. June 21, 1827. Em?na Augusta, b. Dec. 15, 1831, 
m. Sebastian Kramer, d. Oct. 19, 1872. 

John," a shoemaker, and prominent citizen of Bedford, 
m. Betsey Cutler. He d. Feb. 1875; ^^e d. Jan. 1879. 
Ch. \iEdwar,i,^ b. Feb. 15, 1817. Il/o/ih Otis,» b. Sept. i, 
1822. Henry Augns/us,'' b. Aug. 16, 183S, m. Myra Nelson. 

Reuben,' m. Sarah Clark. He d. Nov. 2, 1857; she d. 
Feb. 18, 1S77. Ch. Sarali, b. May 19, 1807, m. Edward 
Flint. Nancy, b. Oct. 22, 1S09, m. John Augustus Mer- 
riam. hKeuben,^ b. Dec. 8, 181 1. Martha, b. Mar. 22, 
1814, m. Joseph Hosmer, d. 1885. Ann Eliza, b. Sept. 3, 
1821, m. Joseph Porter, d. Sept. 3, i860. Mary fane, b. 
Mar. 14, 1824. m. Henry Townsend. Helen F. b. April 25, 
1830, m. William C. Barrett of Providence, R.I. Reuben 
Bacon' was a prominent shoe manufacturer, and a leading 
man in town and Unitarian church. He was town clerk 
from 1S30 to 1844, was representative to General Court 
from his native town in 1834 and 1839-40, and a member of 
the .State Senate in 1836. He was a justice of the peace. 

Albert,' m. June 2, 1825, Susan Reed. Ch. \\ Albert 
Thompson,^ b. Dec. 8, 1827. Albert Bacon" was a mer- 
chant at one tmie, and a man of prominence in town and 
Unitarian church. He represented the town in the Gen- 
eral Court in 1S54. (See Officers.) He, with his compan- 
ion, constitute, in 1891, the most venerable and honored 
couple of the town, aged 89 and 85 years respectively. 
The sixty-si.\th anniversary of their marriage was appro- 
priately celebrated by the town on June 2, i8gi. Their 
bridal trip was made in a bellosvs-top chaise. 




Jerome Allgustlis,* son of Jonathan,' m. Marion M. 
Darling; m. 2d, Lizzie F. Merriam of Boston, granddau. 
of Francis Jackson, a co-worker with Garrison and Phillips. 
She d. Jan. 6, 18S2. He m. 3d, Anna R. March of Bed- 
ford. Ch. Clara D., who m. 1st, Orrin Smith, and had 
Marion D., and Jerome. By 2d wife, Frank? graduate 
of Harvard College, 1890, and a student at Harvard Law 
School. By 3d wife, Charles Aaron, b. Dec. 25, 1889. 
Mary and Abigail (twins), b. June 13, 1891. Jerome A. 
Bacon* was the youngest son of Jonathan.' He lived at 



home until he was fifteen years of age, when a desire for 
more than an ordinary education prompted him to seek 
advantages outside of his native town. He attended 
school at Concord, under Henry and John Thoreau, and 
completed a course at Lawrence Academy, Groton. He 
paid his expenses by his own efforts. At the age of nine- 
teen years, his father rewarded his ambition by giving him 
the choice of a college course or a start in business. He 
chose the latter, and learned the gold leaf and dental foil 
business in his brother Clark's factory at Boston. After 
six months" experience he was given the oversight of the 
apprentices, and soon started the business for himself on 
the homestead at Bedford. This he conducted, together 
with the manufacture of the patent lever blind fastener, 
and gave employment to seventeen people. Through per- 
sonal application and skillful management, he acquired 
sufficient wealth to enable him to relax close application, 
which declining health of his wife made necessary. After 
the death of liis father, he purchased the homestead, and 
enlarged and beautified it for his own residence. His keen 
perception of business possibilities led him to purchase the 
mill of the Lawrence Paper Co., at Lawrence, Mass., and he 
entered upon the manufacture of paper entirely inexperi- 
enced. In 1881 he organized the Bacon Paper Company, 
taking nine-tenths of the stock himself. He then turned 
his attention to Berlin Falls, N.H., where he saw a remark- 
able water power, which he began to utilize, in company 
with Henry H. Furbish, in the extension of the manufac- 
ture of chemical wood fibre for paper stock, which he was 
already manufacturing there. They bought the entire water 
privilege and adjoining lands, built new mills and scores of 
houses for operatives. Thirty-two tons of fibre are turned 
out from these mills daily. The enterpise has led to the 
development of the town, which now has a population of 
about 4000 people, or nearly six times that of ten years 
ago. Mr. Bacon has interests in other mills, together with 
an orange plantation on St. John's River, Florida, that 
comprises eighty acres of trees, planted under his personal 
supervision during a season of ill health when recuperat- 
ing in that state. Mr. Bacon is a helpful friend of his 
native town and of the church of his father's choice, where 
he worships. He is of a retiring nature, and all his acts 
are free from ostentation. 

Albert T.* son of Albert,' m. 1S4S, Sarah A. Gragg, 
who d. Nov. 30, 1877 ; m. 2d, Sept. 10, 1879, Carrie L. 
Moar. Ch. Edna L. b. April 10, 18S1. Albert Reed? b. 
April 22, 1883. Albert T. Bacon* attended the schools of 
the town, then the academy at Concord, under Henry and 
John Thoreau, and later the Lawrence Academy at Groton, 
under Rev. James Means. He is the leader of the Bedford 
Cornet Band, organized in 1SS8. He inherited the mechan- 
ical talent of the family, which he developed by working on 
watch and clock machinery at his home in early life. In 
1853 he entered the employ of the Boston Watch Com- 
pany, then located at Ro.xbury. He finished the first watch 
completed by the company. He went with the company 
to their new and permanent location at Waltham, and 
served in the various departments of the business until he 
was made superintendent, in 1S58, in which position he 
remained until 1877, when he resigned and returned to his 
native town. He was prominent in promoting the enter- 
prise, and baw the small company of 1852, which employed 
twenty hands, pass through its many vicissitudes until it be- 
came the American Watch Company, with nine hundred em- 



I 
o 



o 
o 



o 
z 
>■ 
H 
I 



o 




Bacox. 



Brown. 



ployees and a daily producing power of one liundred and 
fifty watclies. Mr. Bacon is a member of Monitor Lodge, 
F. & A.M., being a past master; also a member of Waltham 
Royal Arch Chapter, and of De Molay Commandery of 
Knights Templars, of Boston. 

UeilbeiljS son of Reuben,' m. ist, Ruth Corbin. She d. 
July 19, 1S38. He m. 2d, Jane M. Davis. He d. Feb. 22, 
1S91 ; she d. Oct. 5, 1879. Ch. Alonzo Raiben? b. May 4, 
1834, d. Mar. 26, 1835. Orlando;-' b. Feb. 6, 1836. Reuben 
Alonzi\' b. July 1, 1S3S. 

Edward,^ son of John" m. April 3, 1839, Charlotte 
Hatch, d. Nov. 18, 1857. She m. 2d, Dec. 9, 1S59, Benjamin 
Brown, d. Oct. 1 1, lS88. Ch. Emily Frances, d. young. 
Lydia Ella, b. June 14, 1S45, m. George B. Wheaton. 
George Edward^' d. young. Clara Esielle, b Dec. 2, 1849, 
m. John E. Dodge, d. Mar. 22, 18S0. Charlotte Eva, b. 
Jan. 30, 1S53, m. Theodore L. Russell. 

Julin Otis,* son of John,' m. Clara A. Goodwin. Ch. 
Alice, d. an infant. George N.'^ b. June 9, 1850, m. Eliza K. 
Whelpley of Boston, have Clara M. b. Jan. 3, 1S81. Eu- 
gene,^ b. Sept. 1853, m. Bertha Lawrence, of Ashby, have 
Lawrence, b. Jan. 13, 1S82, Ramona Z. b. Sept. 1885. Jo- 
sephine, b. 1S55, m. S. S. Wiltsie, of Illinois, have George P. 
b. July, 18S5. Mary A. b. Sept. 1859, m. Edward M. French, 
have Roland, b. 1SS6, Annie J. b. 1S90. Theodore!' b. 1857, 
m. 18S2, .'\ddie Mann, \\-ast Florence, b. 1SS5. Clarence Sy 
b. 1865, m. Hattie Anderson. Charles;' b. 1868, d. young. 

IVarreil,'* son of Jonathan,' m. Aug. i, 1841, Lucy -A,. 
Lawrence. He d. Feb. 5, 1S68. Ch. Frederick Warren? d. 
young. \\\Valter Frank;' b. Mar. 8, 1846. Frederick War- 
ren;' b. May 4, 1849, ^- ^ct. 23, 1S71. Flora Adelaide, b. 
Sept. 30, 1852, m. Horace K. Osborn of Arlington. 

Walter Frank,'-' m. Oct. 21, 1868, Isabel F. Gilbert of 
Arlington. He d. Dec. 8, 1S90. Ch. Warren Lawrence}^ \>. 
Dec. 21, 1S69. Flora Isabel, d. young. Marion Nickerson, 
d. young. Franklin Gilbert,'^'' b. Oct. 6, 1875. Olive Thayer, 
b. Aug. 13, 1887. Lucy Ann, b. Sept. 3, iSSS. 



Stephen,' m. Nov. 28, 1799, Mary I'orter. He d. 1859; 
she d. 1S56. Ch. Susan W. m. Timothy Jones, d. Oct. 5, 
iSSS. Mary P. m. John Dudley, d. Sept. 29, 1S26. Stephen 
Jr.* m. Maria Parkhurst, of Temple, N.H., d. Jan. 1867. 
Eliza, b. 1804, d. 1S23. Caroline, b. Jan. 24, 1S07, m. Abel 
S. Munroe, d. Jan. 21, 1S66. A'ancy, b. Nov. 8, 1810, m. 
Abel Fitch, 2d, Nathan O. Reed. Harriet N. m. Silas 
Sawyer, of Sharon, N.H., d. Aug. 19, 1856. 

NatliauicI,'* son of Michael ■ and Sarah Bacon, b. 1675, 
m. Judith Wyman. Ch. Nathaniel^ b. 1700. Judith d. an 
infant. Judith, b. 1702. Abigail, b. 1704-5, m. Thomas 
Grover. Sarah, b. 1707, ni. Benj. Grover of Stoneham. 
Michael,^ d. an infant. Susanna, b. 17 10, m. Nathan Brooks 
of Concord. Michael,^h. 1713. Joscph,^h. 1716. Thomas,^)^. 
1721. 

Michael,'' son of NathanieH and Judith, m. Nov. 24, 
1743, Sarah Whittemore of Lexington. She d. April 17, 
1745. He m. 2d, Mar. 5, 1747, Elizabeth, dau. of Job and 
Mary Lane, had 9 ch., of whom David" was killed by Wil- 
liam Merriam on June 15, 1810. Solomon" lived on a rough 
farm on Pine Hill road. 

Joseph,'' son of Michael," b. May 8, 16S5, m. May 9. 
1716, Rebecca Taylor of Concord. He d. 1747; she d. 
177S (see epitaph). Ch. Rebecca, d. unmarried. Ruth, m. 
Joseph Robbins, of Acton. Lydia, m. Amos Brooks of 
Harvard. Eunice, m. Samuel Bacon of Stow. For setting 



off " widow's thirds " see page 54. The heirs sold to Sam- 
uel Bacon of Stowe, who with his wife Eunice (Bacon) 
Bacon settled on her homestead, later Thompson Bacon's. 
Their ch. are Samuel, b. Feb. 16, 1749-50. Joseph, b. Nov. 
18, 1751. Abigail, b. Mar. 15, 1754. Noah, b. Jan. 26, 
1756. Stephen, b. Mar. 24, 1758. Joshua, b. Feb. 23, 1760. 
Seth, b. Sept. 26, 1761. Rebecca, h. Feb. 11, 1764. Mary, 
b. Dec. 31, 1765. These ch. of Samuel and Eunice are of 
the si.xth generation, but as the father is not of the Bed- 
ford line from Michael they are not indicated as are oth- 
ers. 

BILLINGS. The family settled in that part of Con- 
cord which is now Lincoln. The line of descent in that 
town has been from Joseph through Nathan to John, m. 
Lvdia Dennis. Ch. Lydia F. b. iSoi. Mary, b. 1803. 
John D. b. 1S05, m. May, 1832, Eliza Ann Stearns, d. Mar. 
27, 1871 (see Industries). She d. Mar. 3, 1S75. Ch. Mary 
Ann, b. Mar. 18, 1833, ™- Oliver J. Lane. John Winn, b. 
Jan. 9, 1837, d. 1840. William P. b. iSio, m. 1S34, Ada- 
line A. Bond, who d. Jan. 1875. 

BLAKE, John (Juincy, son of William and Susanna 
Childs, b. in Boston June, iSog, m. Lucretia (dau. of Isaac 
Davis, a Boston merchant who perished on steamer Lex- 
ington Jan. 29, 1S40), b. July, 18 15. Ch. Anna Afaria, b. 
Nov. 2, 1834, m. Francis H. Ilolton, i ch. Walter Francis, 
b. June, 1836, soldier in Union army, wounded at Fredericks- 
burg, pensioned, drowned Aug. 1886. \i Edwin Plenry, b. 
Nov. 2, 1S38. Clara Matilda, b, .Aug. 31, 1841, m. Byron 
Harmon, M.D., of Woburn. Theodore Ernest, b. Dec. 3, 
1843, f"- Elizabeth Mathers. Eveline Amelia, b. Jan. 29, 
1S46, m. Eben Pratt, 6 ch. Frederick William, b. May i, 
1S4S. Arthur Wellesley, b. Oct. 14, 1851, m. Alice M. Mc- 
Cuen, I ch. Irene Adelia, b. April, 1854, d. 1874. Josiah 
Q. b. Mar. 3, 1856, d. young. George Washington, b. Feb. 
4, 1861, m. Mary Perkins, i ch. 

Ertwiu Henry, m. June i, 1862, Mary L. Parkhurst. Ch. 
Charles Ernest, b. and d. 1S63. Eddielena, b. and d. 1864. 
h Alfred Elmer, b. May 27, 1866. Clarence Willfred, b. 
July 27, 1869, d. Mar. 17, 1S84. John Quincy, b. Oct. 14, 
1S74. Edwina May, b. Dec. 11, 1875. Charles Warren, 
b. Mar. 20, 1S81. Edwin H. Blake started in the grocery 
business in this town .Vpril, 1S60. .Sold out and removed 
to East Cambridge Dec, 1S64, where he followed the same 
business until 1S82, when he returned to Bedford where 
he resides. He was on the board of Overseers of Poor of 
Cambridge 1872, alderman 187S-9, selectman of Bedford 
from 1884 to 1891, representative from Dist. 19 in the 
Legislature 18S8. 

Alfred Elmer, m. Sept. 27, 1SS7, Fanny Belle Rowe. 
Ch. Edwin Ro-wc, h. July 18, 1S90. 

BOYXTOX, William, from England, settled in Row- 
ley, Mass. His son probably went from Rowley to 
Groton or Pepperell. The line has been William, ^ Mo- 
ses,- Abram,'^ John,-* John T.,^ who was b. in 1818, m. in 1S43 
Mary, dau. of Zebediah and Susan Adams. He has been 
often in town office. Ch. Mary Etta, b. Aug. 10, 1846, m. 
Frederick Davis. Nellie A. b. June 12, 1850, grad. of Fram- 
ingham Normal School. Teacher at Emerson School, 
Concord. 

BROWX. (Not numerous in Bedford.) In the early 
years of the town's history there was a family but of very 
remote connection, if any, with that now in the town. 
Joseph m. Nov. 5, 1754, Desire Batchelder, d. 1762 (see 
epitaph). She m. 2d, Stephen Mead, d. Sept. 9, 1797. 



Brown. 



Chamberlin. 



Joseph and Desire had several ch., among whom was Cap- 
tain Joseph, b. 1755, d. 1808. 

There were three early settlers of Watertown by the 
name of Brown, and thought to have been of the same 
family, viz., Richard, Abraham, and John. The records of 
Boston show that there was an Edmund Brown, proprietor, 
of Boston, as early as 1647 ; and according to a land suit, 
16S2, Edmund was nephew to Abraham and brother to 
John, of Watertown, and a son of John, of Hawkedon. 
England. Robert Brown, a near relative of John, was a 
reformer and founder of the denomination of independants 
called originally Brownists, and now represented in church 
organization and government by the various denominations 
of Congregationalists. 

John,' b. in Hawkedon, England, 1631, m. 1655, Esther 
or Hester Makepeace, of Boston (probably England). Set- 
tled in Watertown, N.E., and later Marlboro and Falmouth. 
His will, dated at Watertown, Nov. 20, 1697, says, "late of 
Falmouth." Of their twelve ch. Joseph,^ the last, b. 1677, 
m. Nov. 15, 1699, Ruhamah Wellington, of Watertown, 
where they settled. He was selectman, constable, and 
town clerk from 1700 to 1708. He sold his farm in 1709 
and removed to Le.xington, where he and his wife were 
admitted to the church. May, 17 13, of which he was later a 
deacon. He d. Jan. 11, 1766; she d. July i, 1772, aged 92. 
Ch. Ruhamah, b. 1701. ll Daniel? b. 1703. John? b. 1706, 
d. 1730. Joseph? b. 1708. James? bap. Sept. 2, 170S, in 
Lexington. Josiali? b. 1714, bap. Aug. 12, 1715, admitted 
to church Mar. 11, 1730, graduated at Harvard Col. in 
'735' settled in Sterling. Benjamin? b. 1720, d. 1801. 
William? b. m 1723, was a deacon of church of Framing- 
ham and selectman of town. 

Daniel,^ m. about 1728, Eliot, who d. 1734-5. He 

m. 2d. Anne Bright, of Watertown, who d. Jan. 18, 1780, 
in Lunenburg. He d. Feb. 26, 1796. Ch. John,* d. an in- 
fant. Ruhamah, b. April 7, 1731, m. John Reed, of Bed- 
ford, h Nathaniel Bowman? b. July I, 1738. Abisha? bap. 
Aug. 13, 1738. Anna, 1). April 29, 1739. Daniel,^ b. Dec. 
20, 1741. Esther, Dec. 20, 1743, m. Nathaniel Tottingham, 
of Westminster. Jerusha, b. Mar. iS, 1746, m. Abisha 
Brown, of Concord. Martha, b. June 18, 1749, m. Zach- 
ariah Brown, of Concord. John? b. April 12, 1751, killed 
on Lexington Common April 19. 1775. Hannah, b. April 
8, 1756. Mary, b. May 8, 1758. 

>^atliailiel Bowilian,^ m. Feb. 9, 1765, Abigail Page 
of Bedford. Both admitted to Lexington church Oct. 6, 
1765, and were dismissed to the church in Lunenburg in 
1783. He d. July 30, uSo6; she d. Aug. 8, 1799. Ch. 
Susannah, bap. Oct. 24, 1766, m. Cook, of Plymouth, Vt. 
Abigail, bap. April 26, 1767, m. Robert Bishop, ll Nathan- 
iel? bap. Mar. 26, 1769. Anna, bap. Feb. 3, 1771. Nancy, 
m. French, of Concord. Hannah, A. unmarried in Michigan. 
Rnhamah, m. Daniel Barrett, of Vermont. Polly, m. Moses 
Fitch, of Bedford. Daniel? d. in Michigan. Thomas? set- 
tled in Vermont, and became the founder of a large and 
influential family. \\Joseph? b. Jan. 24, 1782. 

Satliauiel,^ m. Mar, 30, 1797, Ruth Lane, of Bedford, 
where they first settled, removed to Plymouth, Vt., and 
founded a prominent family. He d. April 28, 1S34; she d. 
Aug. tS, 1S38. Ch. Amos? b. Mar. 23, 1799. John^ (see 
epitaph). Abigail, b. Mar. 19, 1803. Mary Ann, b. Sept. 
9, 1S05. Ruth Davts, b. Oct. 17, 1S07. _John Page? Jan. 
12, 1810. 
Josepll,^ m. Oct. 5, 1809, Betsey, dau. of Dea. James 



Wright; she d. June 30, 1818; 2d, Feb. 18, 1819, Rachel, 
dau. of Dea. Moses Fitch. He d. Aug. 26, 1858; she d. 
Mar. 26, i858. Ch. by 2d wife, hjoseph,'' Jr. b. April 27, 
1820. Moses Fitch? b. April 15, 1823. Joseph Brown'' was 
a man of prominence in the town, often in town ofSce, was 
decided and outspoken in all his dealings. His integrity 
and good judgment led many to select him to settle their 
estates and act as guardian of their children, which trusts 
he faithfully administered. 

Jo-sepll,'' Jr. m. 1843, Sarah Ingalls. He d. July 24, 
1854; she m. 2d, Eldridge Merriam. Ch. Joseph IVin- 
throp?' d. young. Eugene Anson,' b. Oct. iS, 1847, who is 
a physician in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Moses Fltcll,* m. Elizabeth Smith, and his family, set- 
tled on the homestead, where he started the butchering 
business, which he followed till his death, April 29, 1873. 
She d. April 17, 1882. ll Ch. John Henry," b. Sept. 1S44. 
Alden,'' b. Sept. 1846, d. July 20, 1868. Abram English,'' 
b. Jan. 21, 1849, '"■ Oct. 11, 1S77, Sarah J. Flint, of Shrews- 
bury. 

John Henry," m. Mar. 1S6S, Aim M. Willard. Ch. 
Alden IV.? b. July 2i, 1869. John Henry was in the war 
of the Rebellion (see page 69). He succeeded to the busi- 
ness established by his father, which he now follows to- 
gether with his son. 

BROOKS, Silas, from Worcester, m. Nancy Weeks 
of Waltham, settled in Bedford in 1838 as a. wheelwright. 
He d. April 7, 1S72. Three ch two d. young. Edwin M. 
b. Sept. 14, 1S43, m. Sarah P. Nelson of Peterboro, N.H. 
Was in Union army [see page 69], d. April 5, 1S73. 

BUTTERFIELD, Benjamiu, headed petitioners. May 
10, 1653, "for a grant of the quantity of six miles square 
which bordereth upon Merrimack River." It included^the 
town of Chelmsford, in which the name of Butterfield was 
prominent for many years. John d. in a stage-coach wliile , 
going from Westford to his home. He left a widow and 
several ch. four of whom settled in Bedford. Ch. ^Joseph 
M. b. Oct., 1812. Eunice, b. July 22, 1816, m. W. M. Ash- 
by. ll/i;/;« b. Nov., 1818. ll Charles M. b. Feb., 1820. 

.Toseitll M., b. Oct. 1812, m. Oct. 11, 1835, Clarissa 
Blodgett of Lexington, who d. April 25, 1890. Ch. Ellen 
E., d. young. Ellen M., b. Sept. 22, 1S39, m. Jonas E. 
Munroe. 

Charles M., b. Feb. 1820, m. Sept. 6, 1840, Louisa 
Emerson, and d. April 25, 1887. Ch. Mary Louisa, b. Jan. 

25, 1841, m. Sept. 27, 1869, Fred A. Locke, d. June 15, 
1890. Charles Edward, d. an infant. Lucy Matilda, b. 
Mar. 18, 1844, m. Oct. 21, 1863, Eben T. Sumner. Charles 
Frederick, d. an infant. 

John, b. Nov. 1818, m. Sept. 1840, Elizabeth Hodgman, 
who d. June i, 1874. Ch. John H. b. Nov. 14, 1841. El- 
dora, b. May 31, 1843, m. H. K. Appleton, d. April 9, 1879. 

CALEF, Wallace A., treasurer of Bedford Lumber & 
Manufacturing Co., son of Asa F. and Sarah (Nichols) 
Calef, was b. in Lowell, July 29, 1S48. He m. Emma 
Francis Meek of Concord. Ch. Edna Georgiana, b. Sept. 

26, 1879. 

CHABIBERLIN. The family in this country is first 
found in Woburn. Thomas and Edmund were among the, 
first English settlers of Chelmsford. 

Pllineas (gen. unknown), came from Chelmsford to this 
town about 1790, m. Feb. 21, 1797, Dorcas Varnum of 
Dracut. He d. Jan. 9, 1S09; she d. Mar. 5, 1849. Ch. 
Dorcas, b. Dec. 6, 1797, m. Timothy Phelps, d. in Dedham. 



Chambeklix. 



Cutler. 



Lydia Smith, b. Oct. 25, 1799, d. Sept. 13, 1S54. David 
Varnum, b. Mar. 6, iSoi, d. May 22, 1833. \i Phineas 
Whiting, b. Sept. 2, 1803. Benjamin Adams, b. June 22, 
1S06 Enoch Lane, b. Feb. S, 1S08, d. Sept. 5, 1885. 

Plliueas W. m. May 12, 1831, Almira Hatch; she d. 
Aug. 19, 1S37 ; 2d, Esther Ulood. He d. Jan. 29, 1878; 
wife Esther d. April 4, 1S87. Ch. four d. young, and 
Almira, b. April 3, 1S34, m. Edward A. Hartwell, q. v., 
Phineas \V. Chamberlin learned the shoe business of Zeb- 
edee Simonds, which he successfully followed with John 
D. Billings. They were manufacturers for many years. 
Mr. C. was a prominent citizen of the town, being help- 
fully identified with its varied interests. He was a prom- 
inent member of the Trinitarian Congregational society 
and church connected with it, being deacon of the church 
from 1845 '■" death. A window to his memory is seen in 
the meeting-house. It was the gift of his widow. 

CLARK. Several families of the name have been in 
town at different times. Capt. EbCllCZer from Kraintree 
settled here soon after the close of the Revolutionary War, 
where he had served as " Captain of Body Guard " of Gen- 
eral Washington, while in New England. He m. Ruth 
Wild. Ch. Eb n, b. 17S1, m. Mary Sampson, 11 ch. He 
d. in Townsend. Kuth, b. 1783, m. Elias Poole, had 2 ch.; 
m. 2d, Castillo Hosmer. Mary, b. 17S6, m. 1804, Stephen 
Corbin,6ch. He d. at Greenville, N.U., aged 99 yrs. Abi- 
gail, b. 17S8, m. Jonathan Bacon, q- v., Sarah, b. 1790, m. 
Reuben Bacon, q. v., Benjamin, b. 1792, m. Martha Hosmer, 
7 ch., d. New Ipswich, N.H. James, b. 1794, m. Hannah 
Hodgman, 4 ch., d. in Stoneham. 



^Villiaill) son of John and Mary Cutts of Maine, b. 
May, 1S07, m. April 24, 1832, Susanna Sprague. He d. 
June 24, 1875 J ^''^ ^- I-''^'^- '°' 'S79. Ch. Mary, m. Wil- 
liam Everett; 2d, Albert P. Sampson; d. Nov. 1863. l-Vil- 
liam and John, twins. William went West, where he is 
supposed to have d. ; John d. in infancy. Susan d. July 29, 
1859. Sarah, m. Albert P. Sampson. John, m. Mary C. 
Draper. Elizabeth, m. G. .S. Phillips. Samuel, d. young. 



liil'lllll; son of Thomas and Lydia Woodbury, b. in .\c- 
worth, N.H., Sept. 12, 1815, m. Feb. 4, 1S47, Mary Lane, 
and settled in this town. He d. Feb. 26, 1891 ; she d. April 
18, 1SS5. Ch. Annette M., b. Feb. 28, 1850. Mary Alice, 
b. Dec. 16, 1852, d. Nov. 22, 1870. Hiram" Clark was a 
farmer and later a teamster, a man of unimpeachable integ- 
rity. 

t'lliirlcs H*, from Concord, m. July 12, 1869, Abbie C. 
Davis. Ch. Engene Davis, b. April 17, 1870. Herbert 
Leslie, b. Jan. 3r, 18S0. Myron Henry, b. July 25, 1881. 

Bradford, of Concord, m. May i, 1877, Jennie A. Bate- 
man of Rochester, N.Y. Ch. C. Nathalie, b. Mar. 31, 1878. 

COLE, Lyman,' son of Nathaniel Cole and Abigail, 
dau. of Oliver and Abigail (Chandler) Flanders, was b. in 
Plymouth, N.H., April 13, 1820. His maternal ancestry 
are traced to Stephen Flanders, who with his wife Jane 
came from England and settled in Salisbury, in 1640. 
Lyman Cole is of the seventh generation ; his parents 
d. when he was young. He m. at Cambridge, Nov. 4, 1849, 
Susannah Tufts, and settled in Bedford, where he has 
since followed the business of a tin and sheet-iron worker. 
Ch. h Qitincy Sumner,* b. June 8, 1S55. Harriet Elisabeth, 



b. Nov. 6, 1S57. Charles Lyman,' b. Oct. 28, 1S59, d. July 
2, 1862. Emma Rebecca, b. Feb. 10, 1S62, d. Dec. 27, 1S63. 

Mrs. Susannah Cole is a descendant, in the third generation, from 
Henry Seavey of Deerfield, N.H., who with the other inhabitants of 
that town lived in garrison houses during the Indian wars. He ventured 
out at one time for some necessaries, when he saw a lurking Indian pre- 
paring to shoot him. He hid behind a log, extended his hat out on a 
stick, and the enemy fired at it. Seavey jumped up, fired and killed the 
Indian, who was heard to exclaim in dying accents, " Me thought so.'' 

(Juiuey Sliiuiier,* m. May 21, 1884, Alice L. Jackson. 
He follows the business of his father. Ch. Lyman Jack- 
son? b. Mar. 26, 1SS6. Ida Mary, b. .4ug. 13, 18S7. Alice 
Bertha, b. July I. 1S91. 

COREY, Charles C. b. in Groton, Mar. 19, 1816, came 
to Bedford in 1S31, m. Nov. 27, 1839, Hannah A. Lane. 
She d. May, 1S84. He m. 2d, July 22, 18SS, Dora M. 
Holmes. Ch. Elizabeth Adalaide, b. Nov. 1S40, m. Oct. 
1867, .\i Rollins. \\Charles Andrew, b. May 23, 1842. 
George W. d. young. Charles C Corey was son of Aaron 
of Groton. His grandfather was of that town, and at Con- 
cord fight, April 19, 1775. He came to Bedford in 1831 
in the employ of the Boston and Keene .Stage Company. 
His father bought a part of the stage route in 1835, when 
father and son conducted the business, furnishing the only 
public conveyance from Groton to Boston. They made a 
round trip in two days, and carried the mails. The New 
England stage coach was abolished after the introduction 
of railroads. Mr. Corey established an express route be- 
tween Bedford and Boston, and later engaged in the lum- 
ber and grain business. 




Cliarles A. m. June 6, 1869, M.iry Ella Lane She d. 
July 26, 1S79. Ch. Lottie May, b. June 24, 1870. Mary 
Adelle, b. July 25, 1876. Charles' A. Corey followed the 
business of a grocer for many years. (See Town OfiScers.) 

CROSBY. The family is now extinct in this town. 
The line in this country is, Simon' of Cambridge, Sinion^ 
of Billerica, Nathan,' Oliver,-' Oliver." Michael'' (Dea.) of 
Bedford, b. 1771, m. 1792, .-Vsenath Klanchard. She d. 
April 23, 1812. He m'. 2d, Lucy Swain, d. Feb. 13, 1836. 
Ch. Michael,' b. April 29, 1792. Asenath, b. Jan. 6, 1794, 
d. June 24, 181 1. /Vcv/ifWe/t," b. Sept. 2, 1795. Rachel, h. 
July 15, 1797, m. May 21, 1818, Nathan Simonds of Burling- 
ton. Mary, b. June 19, 1799, in. Nov. 11, 1823, Luther 
Eaton. J.oammi^' b. Oct. 2, iSoi. Louisa, b. June 18, 1S03, 
m. John Powers. Georgej' b. Mar. 6, 1805. Artemas^ d. 
young. Franklin^ d. young. Asenath, b. .April 23, 181 2. 
Dea. Michael was prominent in the town ; was deacon 
from 1S17 till his death. 

George,' m. Abigail H. Gleason of Billerica. Ch. Mi- 
chael, b. Jan. 9, 1833. George, b. Mar. 3, 1838. William,^ 
b. July 6, 1840. /-Vt^flVw/',* b. Dec. II, 1S42. Mary Louisa, 
b. Aug. 5, 1848. Loammifh. Mar. i, 1851. 

CUTLER. The family is traced to Holland. The 
name has various spellings. James was in Watertown as 
early as 1635. He had a grant of land in 1649 '" '^'S 



CUTLEK. 



Davis. 



northerly part. 

Farms, near that part of Concord now included in Bedford. 

The Cutler settlement was quite extensive. 

Allies B., a carpenter and builder, son of Isaac of Ashby 
and grandson of Thomas of Lexington, a member of Capt. 
Parker's company of 1775. was b. June 22, i8og, m. April 
16, 1S33, Mary P- Lane. She d. Nov. 27, 1SS5. (See Rep. 
and Town Offlcers.) Ch. h E7iierson Bartlett, b. 1S36. 
Fredt-ric Amos, b. 1840, m. Sarah, dau. of Varnum Monroe. 
Two d. young. 

Emerson B. m. Abby F., dau. of Elijah Brown, who d. 
Jan.. 1S56; m. 2d Catherine Jewett. Ch. Abhie m. O. M. 
Galloup. Katie L. m. John Adair. Frank E. Emma A. 
m. Herbert Hartford. 

George TT.jSon of Isaac, b. iSli, m. Lucy E. Merriam ; 
she d. 1S57 ; 2d, Fannie S. Mclntyre of Fitchburg. He 
d. June, 1S73. Ch. A-/a>y, b. Oct. 1859. George Artkw; 
b. June, 1861. Carrie E. b. April, 1S63, d. Nov. iS66. 
Albert IVarrei:, b. Oct. [S65. Clara, b. Dec. 3, 1867. Sa- 
ra/i femiie, b. April i, 1870. 

Kntliailiel Ct, son of Thomas and grandson of Thomas 
of Lexington, m. Susan Grace Lane ; she d. Feb. 4, 1847 \ 
2d, Catherine Wheeler ; 3d, Mrs. Betsey Clement. He d. 
May 13, 1874. Ch. Grace Ann was the only one who 
reached maturity, m. Edwin Gleason, d. Feb. 18SS. 

Tlioilia.s C, brother of Nathaniel C. b. Jan. 16, 1803, 
came to Bedford at the age of iS; was a carpenter. He 
was collector of taxes for nearly a quarter of a century. 
He m. April 17, 1S2S, Maria Wood; 2d, April 14, 1840, 
Louis Wheat, d. Feb. 7, 1869; 3d, July i, 1870, Martha 
Blodget, d. May 14, 1879; 4th, Mrs. Mary Hanniford. He 
d. Dec. 1, 1887. Cli. Albert, b. July 8, 1829. George, b. 
Feb. 1834. H nry W. b. 1834. Leonard, b. Sept. 10, 1836. 
By 2d wife, Clark Coolidge, b. July 7, 1841. (See Military 
chapter.) 

DAVIS, Dolor,' came, it is probable, from Kent, Eng. 
He was in Cambridge in 1634, a petitioner for Groton in 
1656, having before resided in Barnstable, where he d. 
1673. His wife was Margery, sister of Maj. Simon Willard. 

Sailiuel,2 son of Dolor and Margery, m. Jan. 11, 1655-6, 
Mary Mead or Medows; 2d, Oct. 18, 17 11, Ruth Taylor. 
Had 7 ch. of whom the fifth was Eleazer,^ m. 1705, Eunice 
Potter, d. 1721, leaving property valued at ^^412 12 6. 
His wife m. Richard Wheeler. Ch. h Eleazer,^ b. Mar. 5, 
1705-6. Hannah, b. Oct. iS, 1707, m. Benjamin Wheeler. 
Timol/iy,* b. Dec. 8, 1709, m. Hannah Smith. Sarali, b. 
Mar. 23, 1711-12, m. Isaac Merriam. Eunice, h. Dec. 18, 
1716, m. William Marshall. Rebecca, b. May 13, 1719, m. 
Ezra Wheeler. Abigail, b. May 16, 1721, m. Ezekiel Davis. 

Eleazer,* m. 1731, Rebecca Chandler, d. Sept. 12, 1748. 
Ch. \\.Eleazerl> b. May 30, 1734. Rebecca, b. Aug. 2, 1736, 
m. Zachariah Fitch. Elizabeth, d. young. Abigail, b. Oct. 
23, 1741, m. Solomon Hartwell. Sarah, b. Oct. 13, 1743, 
m. Jonathan Fassett. Sanutel, d. young. 

Eleazer,5 m. Sept. 3, 1756, Mary Davis; she d. Jan. 28, 
1763. (See epitaph.) He m. 2d, 1764, Rebecca Putnam. 
Ch. Mary, b. Aug. 19, 1760. Rebecca, b. June 18, 1762. 
By 2d wife, Betsey, b. Feb. 16, 1765, m. Joseph Adams. 
Lncy, b. July 16, 1766, m. Timothy Hartwell. \\Elcazer, 
b. Jan. 13, 1768. Joanna and Sarah, twins, b. Aug. 19, 1769 ; 
Joanna m. William Hartwell, and Sarah m. Job Webber. 
Abigail, b. Aug. 8, 1774, m. Levi Conant. Hannah, b. Aug. 
26, 1775, m. James Webber. 

Eleazer,6 m. Jan. i, 1799, Martha Skinner, gr.-dau. of 



John Skinner and Martha, dau. of John Whitmore and 
Mary Lane. He d. Aug. 22', 1841 ; she d. Oct. 3, 1865. 
Ch. Betsey, b. Dec. 26, 1799, d. Aug. 14, 1S79. J"^"' Skin- 
ner," b. May 6, iSoi, m. Lucy Chaplin, had Martha C, d. 
Nov. 26, 1875. Mary, b. Mar. 22, 1803, d. Jan. 9, 1843. 
\s.Elcazer Page,' b. Jan. 30, 1S05. Susan, b. Jan. 7, 1807, 
m. Lewis P. Gleason, d. June 17, 1S69. Martha Joanna, b. 
Oct. 5, 180S, d. Feb. 10, 1S17. Benjamin Josiah^' b. Dec. 20, 
1810. Hannah Skinner, b. May 25, 1S13, d. July 22, 1831. 
Samuel,' b. Aug. 15, 1S15. (See note.) Martha Maria, 
b. Sept. 7, 1817, d. May 24, 1S84. George E' b. Sept. 7, 
1819, d. Jan. 20, 1851. 

Eleazer Page,' m. Emily W. Reed ; 2d, Susan W. 
Sayles. He d. Mar. 5, 1SS9; Susan W. Davis d. July 24, 
1876. Ch. Emily Maria, b. June 13, 1831. Ellen Amelia, 
b. Mar. 10, 1845, "i- ^^^^ Fitch. Abby Caroline, b. Sept. 
14, 1846, m. Charles H. Clark. Mary Susan, b. Jan. 15, 
1S52, d. May 6, 1875. George Page,^\i.'h\zx. \\, i%<^. (See 
deacons.) Eleazer Page Davis" was the fifth of the name in 
five consecutive generations. He was a successful school- 
master in his early life. He introduced the first black- 
board used in the schools of this town. He was prominent 
in town affairs. The last three daughters were teachers. 
Beiljamiu Josiall Davis' is the owner of the home- 
stead. He is a prosperous farmer, and one who has 
always enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-townsmen. 
Samuel Davis' bears the name of the first of the family 
who settled in the part of Concord now included in Bedford. 
By industry and frugality he accumulated property with 
which he benefits others. He contributed the entire pulpit 
furnitureof the church where he worships, as a memorial 
of his parents, brothers, and sisters. 

Dauiel,^ 3d son of Samuel and Mary, was an incorpora- 
tor of the town and a founder of the church. He m. Mary 
Hubbard of Concord, and d. Feb. 11, 1741. She m. 2d, 
Staples of Mendon, and d. Feb. 2, 1769. They had 12 ch. 
two of whom, Daniel"* and Josiah,'' settled in Bedford. 

Stephen,^ son of Samuel and Mary, was a petitioner 
for the new town and a founder of the church. He m. 
Elizabeth Fletcher, and d. July 11, 173S. Six. ch. d. in 
infancy. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 11, 1714, m. June 27, 1732, James 
Ilosmer of Concord. 

Josiall,^ son of Daniel and Mary (Hubbard), m. Eliza- ' 
beth Raymond. She d. Jan. 15, 1763. They had 9 ch. of 
whom Pauls d. in the war of 1763. (See epitaph.) (For 
Josiah,^ b. 1737, m. Mary WooUey, see Homesteads.) 

Daniel,'' son of Daniel^ and Mary, m. May i, 1766, 
Susanna Lane. He d. and she m. Nov. 23, 1790, Ebenezer 
Richardson of Billerica for his sixth wife. Ch. Susanna, 
b. Nov, 6, 1767, m. Josiah Hill. Other ch. b. at Harvard 
were Sally, m. Brooks of Lincoln. Lydia, m. Nehemiah 
Flint of Concord. Loriihamah, m. John Hill of Billerica. 

Stei)lien,'' son of Stephen and Elizabeth Fletcher, was 
a land surveyor of skill ; his plan of the Lane share of Win- 
throp farm, made in 1763, is still of value. He was a dea- 
con of the church from 1760 till death. He m. Elizabeth 
Brown, who d. 1789. He d. 1787. Ch. h Thaddeits,^ b. 
Feb. 8, 1754. Lydia, b. April 17, 1756. Dorcas, b. Oct. 21, 
175S. Hannah, b. June 5, 1761. John, b. June 7, 1769. 

Tliaddeus,^ was in the Revolutionary War from Bed- 
ford, later a deacon of Baptist church of Woburn. He m. 
1779, Sarah Stearns, who d. Mar. 26, 1S07. Ch. Sally, b. 
July 22, 17S0. h 77irtrt'<?'««,6 b. Jan. 3, 17S2. Betsey,h.Ti^Q.. 
30, 1783. Stephen,^ b. July 20, 1787. Polly, b. April 2, 1789. 



Davis. 



9 



Fassett. 



A'a>icy,h. May 28, l-gi. Isaac Steams,'' b. Nov. 20, 1794, 
d. Nov. S. 1S1-, at New Orleans. Suiey, b. Sept. iS, 1795, 
m. Capt. John Tidd, d. Aug. 26, 1S22. 

TlinddeilS,'' ni. 1805, Sally Gilson, who d. May 10, 1S55. 
He d. June 21, 1S66. Ch. h ThadJciis N.' h. Mar. S, 1806. 
Samtul G.' b. Feb. 17, iSoS, d; Dec. 2, iSSi. IVarrt-ii,' h. 
May 5, iSio. George^ h. Aug. 11, 1812. Sara/i S. b. Jan. 
17, 1S15, m. J. M. Borroughs, d. Aug. 22, 1S51. Mary,h. 
June 13, 1S17, m. Gardner French. Isaac .S.' b. Mar. 20, 
1S21. Susan, b. April 4, 182^. m. Josiah Kingman, d. Aug. 
19, 1852. 

Tlliuldoiis H." was deacon of Church of Christ of Bed- 
ford, often in town office. He ni. May 4, 1S37, Almira 
Stearns, who d. 1SS2. He d. 1SS5. Ch. Sarah A. b. April, 
1838, m. Charles Webber. Ii George T/iat/ciciisfih. July 29, 
1840. Samuel /K' d. young, h Frederick^ b. Mar, 29, 1845. 
Mary L. b. Feb. 18, 1848. 

(lieorjfe Tliaddeiis* settled in the South after the Civil 
\Var, where he is a man of wealth and influence. He m. 
Jan. iS, 1S72, Abbie Simonds of Le-xington, who d. Mar. 
1886. Ch. Edith May, b. 1873. Herbert Thaddeiisf b. 
1876 (the fifth generation of Thaddeus). Annie Maud, b. 
1880. 

Frederick* settled on the homestead. He was in the 
Civil War, q.v. He in. Nov. 19. 1868, Mary Etta, dan. of 
John T. Boynton and Mary .Adams. 



Fairfield K. b. in Nashua, N.H.. 1830, settled in Bed- 
ford 1S64; a town officer; m. 1S54 Caroline E. Lane, d. 
June 30, 1S67. Ch. Ada C. b. Feb. 5, 1S58, m. Rufus E. 
Bellows of Dorchester. Waller, b. 1S61, d. 1863. George 
W. b. Dec. 6, 1S66, m. Emily L. Bellows of Dorchester 

DEAX, Beiljnillill, m. June 11, 1707, Sarah Colburn. 
Ch. Elizalh-th. b. 170S, ni. John Moore, d. 1732. 

Thomas, m. Feb. 9, 1697, Susan Davis of I'.oston. He 
d. Mar. 3, 1745; shed. 1765. He was a petitioner for the in- 
corporation, lived on the high land east of Cedar .Swamp, 
and gave a three-acre lot "for the encouragement of the 
Gospel," upon which it is thought the first meeting-house 
was built. Mrs. Susanna Dean, widow of Thomas, be- 
queathed £~ fo. 8(/. "lawful money" to the church to pur- 
chase a silver cup; to Rev. Nicholas Bowes, £10; to John 
Moore her "meeting-house pue;" gun to John Dinsmore 
of Hollis, N.H. John and Joseph Moore had residue of 
estate. 

DESJIAZES, John Iiai>tist, an olive merchant of 
Bordeau.x, France, had %o\\ John, who came to this country 
about 1775, m. Lucy Fletcher Amory of Boston, had John, 
b. .April 17, 1794 (in the 1S12 war), m. Oct. 8, 1S15, Nancy 
Dale of Andover. They had 9 ch. of whom Henry, b. Feb. 
g, 1S32, settled in Bedford in 1866. William settled in 
New York. 

Dl'KKAM', or Dl'REX. The name was prominent 
in town during the Revolution and later. They were from 
liillerica. John' was there in 1659. 

Jonas/ m. Dec. 17, 1776, Esther Jones of Bedford. Ch. 
Ahraham,'' b. July 15, 177S. Anna, b. Oct. 7, 1781. 

Reuben,* m. Jan. it, 1770, Mary Gould of Chelmsford. 
He d. Jan. 4, 1S21 ; she d. Oct. 16, 1S23. Ch. £//,» d. an 
infant. /1/arj', b. Dec. 7, 1771, m. Stephen Parker. Reu- 
ben,^ b. Aug. 14, 1775, m. Sarah Conant of Concord. Asa,^ b. 
May II, 177S, tn. Hannah Russ. /oel,^ b. June 22, 17S0, m. 
Lydia Conant of Concord. A'athaniel Gould? b. Nov. 26, 



17S1. He took his mother's name, lived with an uncle in 
New Ipswich, N.H., became a famous penman and music 
teacher. He was the first teacher of singing in juvenile 
schools. Joseph,' b. July 30, 17S4. m. Lucinda Clark, was 
a pensioner for service in 1812 war. Ebiathan,^ b. Oct. 8, 
1786. m. Dec. 10, 181 1, Elizabeth Freeman, had sons Charles 
and Elnathan Freeman. Reuben Duren< was an architect 
and builder. He built some of the first-class dwelling- 
houses of ihe town, of which Col. Timothy Jones' and Rev. 
Mr. I'enniman's mansions were specimens. He lived in 
this town until 1792, when he purchased a tavern in Bil- 
lerica. which he kept until he removed to N.H. In the 
history of New Ipswich he is noticed as a resolute and 
enterprising man, and was distinguished as a builder of 
meeting-houses. He received a premium for a model for a 
bridge over Merrimac River at Pawtucket Falls against 
many competitors. 

Dl'TTON. Several of the name have lived in this town 
at different periods of its history. 

Samuel, m. .Aug. 10, 1740, Martha, dau. of James Lane^ 
and Martha Minot. Ch. Pattie, b. April 10, 1742. m. Dec. 
13, 1764, David Pollard. Samuel, b. July 11, 1743. Han- 
nah, b. April 21, 1745. Scth, b. April 9, 1747. 

Samuel, third generation of the Christian name, from 
.Ashby, m. Nov. 28, 1805, Anna. dau. of Solomon Lane.^ 
Cli. Samuel Stearns, Solo7non Lane, Laura Ann, m. Varnum 
Spaulding. 

fteora^e, son of Samuel of .Ashby. b- June 11, 1S04 (one 
of fourteen children), m. Nov. 27, 1828, Lydia P. Jaquith 
of Billerica. He d. July 12, 1S67. Ch. Lydia Ann, b. Oct. 
29, 1829, m. Joseph Foster; 2d, Daniel Giles; d. Aug. 17, 
1882. Mary Jane, b. June r, 1831, m. John B. Hill. Excy 
Maria, b. Oct. 13, 1S32, d. July 5, 1S49. Susan L. b. Mar. 
29, 1S35, m. Aug. 10, 185S, John F. Blinn. Louisa C. b. 
Nov. 22, 1841, m. 1st, Aug. 2, 1863, Elbridge Challies; 2d, 
Mar. 8, 1883, George Burgess. Lucy A. b. Sept. 28, 1843, 
m. Charles L. Flint. P. Estelle, b. Dec. 23, 1747, d. June 
15, 1859. 



Hiram L. son of Hildreth Dutton and Putnam,' 

and grandson of William from England and Susanna Reed 
pf Westford, b. April 11, 181 5, m. April, 4, 1S43. Ellen 
Towne of Salem, and settled in Bedford (see Homesteads). 
Ch. Albert L. b. Nov. 24, 1S44. h George H, b. Mar. 26, 
1846. Ellen F. b. .April 20, 1847, ^- Nov. 15, 1S47. Liiui, 
b. Dec. 4, 1S48. //. Ed-ward, b. Jan. 11, 1851. William F. 
b. June 20, 1S53, d. Mar. 5, 1S54. C. Warren, b. Mar. 20, 
1855, d. July 16, 1869. I/attie E. b. Aug. iS, 1858. Ella 
/•'. b. July 23, 1862. 

George H. m. Oct. 9, 1870, Harriet Hartwell. She d. 
April 20, 1883. Ch. Warren Hart~well, b. Aug. 28, 1S71. 
Herbert Page, b. Oct. 16, 1875. ^'^"7 F. b. Mar. 11, 1S77. 
Heniy Taylor, b. May 4, 1880. Isabel Thompson, b. July 
19, 1S82. 

EVERETT, William, a chaise trimmer and harness- 
maker, settled here about 1820, memorial seen in meeting- 
house gift of granddaughter. He. m. .Anna C. Dickson, 
who d. Feb. 26, 1830; 2d, Eliza A. Lane. He d. July 4, 
1868 ; she d. Jan. 28, 1873. Ch. William D. m. Mary Clark, 
d. June 6, 1853. His ch. were Annie E. m. J. E. May- 
nard. Marion D. m. Samuel G. Carter, d. Oct. 27, 1884. 

FASSETT. A numerous family here in the early years. 
Name is extinct. They were of Scotch origin, and their 
blood still courses in the Page, Lane, and Webber families. 



Fassett. 



10 



Fitch. 



In the South tax list of 174S are the names of Peter, John, 
and Benjamin; and in the Xorth list is Josiah's. 

Johu, m. Mar. 31, 1697, Mary Hill of Billerica. He d. 
Jan. 30, 1736; she d. May 19, 1749. (See Town Officers 
and Physicians). Samuel, brother of John, was first town 
treas. of Westford, where he settled, m. Lydia Parker, and 
had a large family- 

Josiall, Capt. m. Joanna Page, d. Feb. iS, 1740. Ch. 
Susanna, m. Job Lane.'' Asa, m. Nov. 9, 1777, Margaret 
(Wellington) widow of Timothy Page. Ch. were Josiah, d. 
young, Timothy, Amos, Benjamin. 

FITCH, Zacliariall,' had forty acres of land set to him 
among the inhabitants of Lynn in 163S, when he was made 
a freeman. He removed to Lynn village (South Reading) 
in 1644. There were two others of the surname at about 
that time, Jeremy and Henry. They were all farmers. 
Zachariah was a deacon of the church in Reading. His 
residence was on " Fitch Hill." In a centennial poem by 
Eaton written in 1844 is the following: — 

" I further looked, and on the bill, 
Where now the heirs of Jolin Gould dwell, 
Upon the western slope or pitch. 
There lived old Z.-icharinh Fitch. 
His name he gave to hill and lane, 
A name they both as yet retain.'' 

He d. June 9, 1662. In his will, dated May 3 of that year, 
he mentions wife Mary, sons Joseph, Benjamin, John, Jer- 
emiah, Thomas, Samuel, and daughter Sarah, who m. John 
Wesson of Salem. Benjamin was executor. He requested 
in his will that Joseph and Benjamin should assist Samuel 
(then under age, 18 yrs.) "to build a house on his lot on 
Bear Hill, 27 by 18 feet with 12-foot posts, and to dap- 
board and board it, and break up his land or so much of it 
as can be done by the tiine he becomes 22 years of age." 
His estate was appraised £^^i js. 6J. 

Saiinier- (youngest son of Zachariah and Mary), b. Mar. 
6, 1645, m. April 23, 1673, Sarah, dau. of Job Lane. She 
d. Oct. 2, 1679. He m. 2d, July 26. 16S1, Rebecca Merriam. 
He d. 1684, leaving hSamne/,^ b. May 4, 1674, to whom he 
gave by will real estate, and " on tow, tlie feather-bed 
that was his mother's, and the green rug and on pair of 
Holland sheets and three of the biggest peuter platters." 
" I do leave as my will, if my brother Avery (Robert) doth 
(e.\hort?) to take my son Samuel and to teach him to wright 
and the trade of a smith, my will is that he shall live with 
him till 20 years old." Estate appraisal was ;if235 ii.t. 

Samuel,'^ m. Mar. 20, 1695, Elizabeth Walker, dau. of 
Joseph. She d. Nov. 26, 1716. He m. 2d, Eunice Taylor. 
He d. April 4, 1742; she d. Aug. 27, 1767, aged 91. Ch. 
Sai-a/i, b. and d. i6g6. Sara/:, b. May 4, 169S, m. Richard 
Hixon. Samuel,^ b. Feb. 14, 1699, m. 1732, Joanna Kidder, 
settled in Westford, d. Jan. 1775. \\ Joseph,* b. Oct. 22, 
1702. \iBi>i/amiH,* b. July 30, 1703. John,* b. Feb. 12, 
1707-S, settled in Lunenburg 172S, and doubtless the one 
for whom Fitchburg was named. \\Jcremiaii,* b. (.'). 
]lZa(haria//,* h. Feb. 13, 1712. By 2d wife, Elizabeth, b. 
Sept. 22, 17 18, m. Joseph Mead. For the homestead of 
Samuel Fitch^ see Brookside. His will dated Nov. 13, 
1741, gives wife Eunice west end of dwelling-house and 
cellar, and corn, rye, beef, pork and necessaries, to be pro- 
vided by son Jeremiah, who was to have all at his mother's 
decease, e.xcepting legacies to other ch. 

Josepll,'' Capt. (see William W. Farrell Homestead), 
m. Jan. 31, 1731, .Sarah Grimes of Lexington (first marriage 



recorded in Bedford). She d. Jan. 22, 1750. He m. 2d, 
Mrs. Rachel Convers, widow of Joseph. He d. Feb. 7, 
1769, and she m. John Page. Ch. Sarah, b. Mar. 25, 1732, 
bap. with het father, April 30, 1732, m. 1750, Josiah Crosby, 
settled in Amherst, now Milford, N.H., in 1753, on the 
Souhegan river. They were pioneers in the wilderness, 
where they founded a noted family. Molly, b. Oct. 16, 
'737' ™- Jonathan Blodgett. Susannah, b. July 26, 1743, 
m. Josiah Munroe. Joseph,^ b. Oct. 2, 1746, settled at No. 
2, N.H., conveyed estate in 1769 to Joseph Converse, q.v. 
By 2d wife, ]| Thaddcus,-' b. Marcli 23, 1755. 

Beiljainill'' (son of Samuel^) bought the Bacon mill on 
the Shawshine, q. v., m. Feb. 28, 1732, Miriam Gray of 
Andover, and d, July 7, 1770. Ch.. Hannah, b. Jan. 10, 
1733, m. Aug. I, 1751, David Tarbell. Miriam, b. Jan. 23, 
1734-5, m. Sept. II, 177S, Timothy Jaquith. Benjamin,^ b. 
Jan. 6, 1736-7. Louis, b. Oct. 31, 1740, m. Nov. 21, 1776, 
Edward Powers, h Tlavid,^ b. May 22, 1743. Lydia, d. 
young. Euniff, b. July 26, 1747, m. Daniel McNickole. 
Mithan,^ A. yonng. Isaac^h. May 18, 1752 (see epitaph). 
Nathan, b. May 13, 1755. 

Jeremiah'' (son of Samuel'''), m. Feb. 3, 1735-6, Eliza- 
beth, dau. of Col. John and Catherine Lane. Ch. Sam- 
uel,'' b. Nov. 9, 1736. Elizabeth, d. young. \\Jeremiahf b. 
Sept. 25, 1742. John and Matthew, twins, b. Aug. 14, 1745. 
John d. May 31, 1820; Matthew m. Aug. 25, 1774, Lydia 
Lane, and d. Aug. 3, 181 1. Joanna, b. Feb. 29, 1747-8, m. 
Benjamin Tidd of Lexington. Pattie, b. July 14, 1750. 
Elizabeth, b. Aug. 7, 1752, d. Mar. i, 1825. \\Moses,^\i. 
Mar. 3, 1755. .^11 of the sons of Jeremiah'', excepting Sam- 
uel, are recorded as in the w:ir of the Revolution. 

Zachariah,^ m. Oct. i, 1733, Elizabeth Grimes of Lex- 
ington; she d. Mar. 12, 1790. Ch. Zachariahf b. April I, 
1734, m. Rebekah Davis, settled in Groton. William} b. 
Feb. 19, 1735-6, killed in the French War. Elizabeth, h. 
Jan. 6, 1738-9, m. Samuel Lane. Jonas,^ b. Feb. 3, 174C-1, 
settled in Groton. He was a man of great mechanical 
genius, especially in the art of clock making; all the 
movements of his clocks were made by his hands. These 
timepieces are still owned in Pepperell and Groton. A 
grandson and namesake inherited his mechanical aptitude. 
Masonic Temple, Fitchburg depot, and City Hall, in Bos- 
ton, are monuments of his skill. Ebenezer, Esther, and 
Luey d. young. Esther, b. (.)ct. 13, 1749, m. Nehemiah 
Lawrence. Ebenezer,^ b. -\ug. 5, 1751, was a Minute Man ; 
removed lo Rindge, N.H., in 1779; was duly "warned 
out," but settled and became prominent. Luey. b. July 6, 
1753, m. Joseph Hill of Billerica. Sarah, b. Jan. 2, 1755. 
Phebe, b. Nov. 25, 1756, m. April i, 1784, John Sprague. 
(See Homesteads.) Alles, b. Nov. 10, 1759, m. Henry 
Woods. Jr Daniel,^ b. Feb. 21, 1764, d. Oct. 12, 1843. 

Tlia(ldeus,» a Revolutionary pensioner, son of Joseph's 
and Mrs. Rachel Converse, m. Sept. 14, 1779, Mary, dau. 
of John Moore, Jr. and .Mary Wheeler. Ch. Mary, b. 
Dec. 29, 1779, m. Oliver Reed. Sarah, b. Sept. 22, 1781. 
Joseph,^ b. July 10, 1797, d. Dec. 30, 1S30. 

David," son of Benjamin,'' inherited the homestead and 
mill from his father. He m. .April 3, 1770, Mary Fowie of 
Woburn. He d. July 27, 1813; she d. Sept. 19, 1S29. Ch. 
Polly, b. Oct. 23, 1770, m. Benjamin Wheeler of Concord, 
N.H. Lydia, b. Dec. 7, 1772, m. Nathaniel Page. hDa- 
vid,f> b. June 2S, 1777. Isaacfi (See epitaph.) 

Jercinlall," son of Jeremiah,-" m. April 19, 1770, Lydia 
Smith of Waltham. He d. Dec. 29, 1808; she d. Sept. 10, 



Fitch. 



11 



Fitch. 



1S23. Ch. Alford and two Lydias d. young. \\Jircmiahf- 
b. May 14, [77S. \\Almon!' b. Aug. 8. 17S0. VAr nfi b. 
July 26, 17S2. /<>////,« b. Feb. 6, 1785, d. Feb 2, 1S20. h Al- 
ford,'' b. Aug. 2, 17S6. Jeremiah Fitchs was sergeant in the 
company of militia of Bedford in 1775. (See Stone Croft 
Farm, Chap. XXXIV.) 

Moses,'' son of Jeremiah.J m. Nov. 14, 17S2, Rachel, 
dau. of Edward and Lucy Stearns. He d. Oct. 12, 1825; 
she d. May 23, 1S17. Ch. Solomoiifi b. Nov. S, 1783, settled 
in Ltitleton, N.H., had large family. Lucy^ b. July 17, 17S5, 
m. John Page. \\Afoscs,''' b. .Mar. 28, 1787. Elijah,'' b. Jan. 
10, 1790, settled in Boston. He d. Mar. 7, 1S40, leaving a 
family. Rachd, b. Nov. 30, 1 791, m. Joseph lirown. \\Jocl'' 
b. June 12, 1794. jValhiiii, d. young. Moses Fitch^ was at 
Concord, entered the Continental army, was wounded at 
the batile of White I'lains, N.\'., andwas a pensioner. He 
wasdeacon from Jan. 10, 1S05, till death. He, with son Joel 
and daughter Rachel (Fitch) Brown, are honored by a me- 
morial window in the meeting-house of the Trinitarian 
Congregational society (a gift of their descendants). 

IJavld"' continued the family possession of the mill and 
homestead. He m. Nov. 12, 1799, Hannah Proctor, d. Dec. 
22, 1S03; 2d, Jan. 8, 1S05, Ulive Simonds, d. Sept. 20, 185S; 
3d, Mrs. Susan Adams of Billerica. He d. May 24, 1S60. 
Ch. \\ D.r.id,' b. Feb. 20, 1S02; Haitimh Proctor, b. Dec. 
10, 1S03, m. Dr. Bela Cardner, q.v., d. Jan. 20, 1S44. . By 
2d wife, Mary Fawlt, d. an infant. Mary J-kvU; b. May 
29, 1S07, m. Benjamin F. Hartwell. li .-Yi^c/,' b. .April 25, 
1S09. 'U Xathan,' b. Feb. 13, iSii. Jonathan .Simonds,' d. 
young. Martha Simonds, b. May 29, 1S17, m. Nathan O. 
Reed. Oliiv, b. April 24, 1820, m. May 23, 1854, Robert 
A. Cook, d. May 29, 1891, at Sackville, N.H. Isaac' and 
Lucy, twins, b, Dec. 23, 1S24; Isaac d. Feb. 13, 1825; Lucy 
d. May 5, 1S54. Mary Fowie (Fitch) Hartwell received 
from her father the homestead in the centre of the town, 
which she continued in the family possession by deed of 
gift to her daughter, Mary Alzina (Hartwell) Fletcher. 

•loreiliiall,'' m. May 10, 1S04, Mary Rand of Chelmsford.* 
He d. July 10, 1840; she d. Mar. 3, 1S40. Ch. two named 
Caroline Matilda d. young. Caroline Matilda, b. Sept. i, 
iSoS. Jtrcmiah Gion^cj' b. Feb. 19, 1810, Harvard College 
1S31, d. Feb. 25, 1S45. Mary Hand, b. .Aug. 30, 1S13, m. 
April 7, 1S41, John Henry Jenks, d. June 13, 1S81, had 6 
children, four of wliom survived her. The author is happy 
to insert here a biographical sketch prepared, at his reciuest, 
by Rev. Henry Fitch Jenks. 

Jeremiah Fitch, the eldest son of Jeremiah, Jr., and 
Lydia (Smith) Fitch, was born in Bedford, May 14, 177S. 
He received the common education of a country town. 
His father wished him to devote himself to farming, and 
as an inducement offered him the paternal farm; but, being 
of an enterprising spirit, and not having any inclination 
to agricultural pursuits, nor finding any other occupation 
which it was possible for him to follow in the town con- 
genial, he left Bedford, at the age of fourteen, and came to 
Charlestown, with a capital of twenty cents, and, unaided 
by any one, set himself to procure employment. 

Me soon secured a situation with Mr. Samuel Ruggles, 

• Mary Raud was born at Chelmsford, whither her mother had gone 
from Boston, owing to the excitement in the latter town when occupied 
by the British. Her physician was Dr. Danforth, and she was helped 
away by his son Tom, who was a Tory. She carried with her a trunk 
of gold. The sentinel opposed her going, but Danforth inteifered in 
her behalf with seeming roughness of manner, and said, " Oh, let the 
old woman go ! " 



and from that time relieved his father from all pecuniary 
responsibility for his support. By diligent attention to 
business, he won the confidence of his employers, and 
gradually rose to higher positions. 

After a time he removed from Charlestown to Boston. 
When he became of age he was assisted to begin business 
for himself, but by the failure of his patrons he was involved 
in embarrassments, from which it took him a long time to 
extricate himself. His conduct under these circumstances, 
however, won him friends, who offered him capital and 
assistance. The offers were accepted, and diligence and 
carefulness secured him success. Prosperity followed his 
efforts, and he accumulated what for those days was a re- 
spectable fortune. 

He first began business under the firm name of Nolan 
& Fitch, in 1799. Later he continued as an importer of 
dry goods under his own name, or that of Jeremiah Fitch 
& Co. He first occupied in Boston, in 1802, what was 
then 27 Cornhill (now Washington Street); in 1819 he 
removed to 5 Market Street (now Cornhill), and later, in 
1826, after the great fire, to 38 and 40 Central .Street. 

He was always esteemed for straightforwardness and 
integrity in his dealings. For nearly twenty years he was 
a director of the Union Bank and of the Mercantile Marine 
Insurance Company. For many years he was a member 
of the Board of Health, retiring in 182 1 to become a mem- 
ber of the last Board of .Selectmen of the town of Boston ; 
in 1824 he was a member of the Common Council, and in 
1825 an overseer of the poor of the City of Boston. 

He was an attendant at the church in Brattle Square, 
under the ministrations of Mr. Buckminster, Mr. Palfrey, 
and Mr. I.othrop, and long a member of the standing com- 
mittee. During his service the old cannon ball which 
struck the Church during the siege of Boston and then had 
done duty for many years as a weight on the front gate of 
a neighboring residence, was by his instrumentality imbed- 
ded in the front of the edifice, where it so long remained, 
an object of interest not merely to strangers visiting the 
city, but to many now living who can well remember it. 

He was hospitable to a high degree. Retaining the old 
farm which had been his father's, he kept to the last his 
interest in his native town, and always welcomed to his 
city home his country friends and neighbors, and gladly 
did whatever he could for the benefit of the town. To the 
old church which he habitually attended he gave a clock and 
a pulpit Bible; and when the separation of the churches — 
which he greatly deplored — took place, he gave to the 
newly formed society, of which his old friend Rev. Samuel 
Stearns remained the minister, a piece of land an which to 
build the meeting-house.* 

• Mr. Fitch's benevolence was not of the psst viortem kind, but he 
freely and quietly gave of his accumulating wealth during his life, his 
donations being frequently made by the hand of his friend and early pas- 
tor, Rev. Samuel Stearns, with whom there was a mutual understanding. 
The pastor's notice was sufflcient to bring relief in any case of need in 
the town. The spacious kitchen of the old Fitch Tavern was turned to 
a stotehouse at the annual Thanksgiving season, and from it was dis- 
pensed that which brought cheer to many a widow's liome. When driv- 
ing to Iris native town, Mr. Fitch often dropped packages of books at 
the schoolhouse door, and each pupil had a share. Souvenirs of these 
davs, when books were rare and costly, are carefully treasured in many 
of the old homes of the present. Adults were not infrequently remem- 
bered. The author's library contains a volume of the " Panoplist," the 
Trinitarian organ during the religious controversy, in which is the fol- 
lowing, written on the lly-Ieaf: "Presented by Jeremiah Fitch, and 
distributed, with a few other volumes, at his request, by Rev. Samuel 



Fitch. 



12 



Flint. 



The name of Pond Lane in Boston was changed to 
Bedford Street in compliment to him. 

He was married in Boston, May lo, 1S04, by Rev. Wil- 
liam Emerson, pastor of First Church, to Mary, daughter 
of Robert Rand of Boston, and took up his residence in 
Hanover Street. Subsequently he lived in Cornhill (Wash- 
ington Street), Portland Street, and Hamilton Place. 

Mrs. Fitch was born Dec. 14, 1776, and died March 3, 
1S40, four months previous to his decease, which occurred 
at his residence, i Hamilton place, July 10, 1S40. They 
were both buried nearly opposite their old residence in a 
tomb in the Granary Burying Ground. 

AllllOIl,° son of Jeremiah,5 m. Mar. 2S, 1S14, Martha 
Wood. He d. Nov. 23, 1S20; she d. May 27, 1873. Ch. 
Lydta S. b. May 14, 1815, m. Joseph Skinner, d. Nov, 3, 
1S57. Allh-rt,' b. Feb. 14, 1S17, lives in Lexington. 

Alford,'' son of Jeremiah,5 m. June 4, 1S18, Sally Reed. 
She d. Aug. 23, 1820; he d. June 22, 1S52. Ch. Sally Kccd, 
b. Feb. 19, 1820. 

Amos," son of Jeremiah,5 m. April 7, 1813, Martha Starr 
of Roxbiiry, d. Dec. 14, 1826. Ch. Martha L. b. Feb. 5, 
1814, m. Joseph W. Page. /o/«2 .4. d. in infancy. John A. 
b. Jan. 10, 1817. 

Mo.ses,'^son of Moses,5 m. Dec. 6, 1810, Polly Brown, d. 
Aug. I, 1824. She m. 2d Brown, and settled in Mich- 
igan, d. about 18S6. Ch. John Mosesfi b. July 8, 181 1, m. 
Catherine Bacon, settled in Michigan and became promi- 
nent. 

Joel,'' son of Moses,^ m. Feb.iS, 1S19, Susanna Hill. 
He d. Aug. 4, 1S45; she d. Oct. 21, 18S2. Ch. three d. 
young. Susanna, b. Feb. S, 1827, grad. at Mt. "Holyoke 
Sem. 1S47, m. Joseph G. Marchant of Illinois, has a large 
family. Rachel Ann, b. Aug. 14, 1S29, grad. at Mt. Holyoke 
Sem. 1S49, "'^ David G. Rabb of Indiana, has a large fam- 
ily. Moses Josiah^' b. Aug. 24, 1834, studied at Lawrence 
Acad. Groton, m. Carrie E. Starr, settled in Chicago, 111.; 
is the founder of the Fitch Paper Co., deacon of a church, 
and a man of wealth and influence. Delia Adelaide, b. May 
17, 1S40, d. Oct. 24, 1846. Joel Fitcho settled on the home- 
stead, and later moved to the village and engaged in mer- 
cantile business, which he followed till death. He was a 
deacon of the Church of Christ from 1S35 till death, a 
justice of the peace, and a man of prominence. 

Darid,' son of David,'' m. Mar. 31, 1825, Betsey But- 
trick. He d. May 19, 1S51 ; she d. Oct. I, 1SS9. Q,\v. Betsey, 
b. June 26, 1S26, in. Lorenzo Poor of Derry, N.H. Emily, 
b. Dec. 26, 1827, m. Henry F. Marshall of Pelham, N.H. 
David,^ b. Mar. 3, 1S32, m. Sarah Williams of Lexington, 
has 4 ch. Ami, b. Sept. 15, 1834, m. William S. Jordan of 
Woburn. John,^ b. June 17, 1S36, d. Sept. 4, 1855. Sarah, 
b. July 6, 1S38, d. April 9, 1S55. Abel,^ b. May 10, 1S40, 
m. Mrs. Thompson of Cambridge. Albert,^ b. Nov. 18, 
1S42, was killed at battle of Chancellorsville in the Civil 
War in 1863. Helen, b. Mar. 29, 1S46, d. 

Stearns." Early in this century there was but one newspaper subscribed 
for in the town, yet many homes were supplied with the current news by 
Mr. Fitch. 

Miss Caroline M. Filch possesses many of the commendable traits of 
character of her father. The same unostentatious benevolence has char- 
acterized her life. Early inventions for the relief of the bed-ridden were 
furnished by her, books were freely dispensed, and the Public Library 
is now a channel tlirough which she scatters blessings to all ages. At 
the organization of the High School, in 1SS5, she gave one hui dred vol- 
umes as a nucleus for a school library. Author. 



Abel," son of David,"^ m. Oct. 6, 1S35, Nancy Bacon, d. 
Oct. 16, 1839. She m. 2d Nathan O. Reed. Ch. /Vancy 
Jane, b. Aug. 16, 1S36, m. Joseph B. Lawrence. \iAl<el 
Porter,^ b. Sept. 17, 1837. Henry Braniard,, b. and d. 

1839- 

Natliau,' son of David,^ was the fourth and last genera- 
tion of the faiuily to follow the business of a miller, m. 
Sept. 9, 1834, Louisa Burnham. He d. Mar. 21, 1890; she 
d. Mav 30, 1SS9. Ch. \\ A'2.than Andrew,^ b. Sept. 9, 1S35. 
\\ Isaac Emerson,^ b. Nov. 30, 1S36. \y Benjamin,^ b. Sept. 
30, 1S3S. \\Silas,'^ b. Aug. I, 1840. ]iAlaman:o,'^ b. Mar. 
12, 1843. flfarshall, b. Dec. 16, 1S44, d. April 28, 1845. 
Martha, b. Oct. 28, 1S46, m. Henry Davis of Somerville. 
Olive M. b. Oct. 2, 184S, m. George A. Hartwell. \v David 
L. Bfi b. Oct. 17, 1S51. la Franklin P.,^ b. Oct. 1855. 

Katliail Andrew,'' m. 1859, Calista Tarbell of Rindge, 
N.H. Ch. iVetlie Louisa, b. Dec. 23, i860, ni.- 1882, Silas 
B. Fales. Henry Warren,^ b. Jan. 25, 1866, ni. 1890, 
Fontinelle A. Wilbur. Lucy Beatrice, b. April 16, 1876. 
Nathan A. Fitch* left his native town at the age of sixteen 
years, and engaged in the provision business in the city of 
Boston, which he still follows. His only advantages for 
early education were such as could be obtained at the dis- 
trict schools. In 1858 he became associated with the Bap- 
tist Bethel, devoted to the interests of seamen. He has 
been superintendent of the Sabbath school connected with 
that church thirty years, and a faithful friend of the sail- 
ors. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen of Somer- 
ville in 1883-4, and is prominent in the fraternities of Free 
Masons and Odd Fellows. He has followed the injunc- 
tion, " Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving 
the Lord," and been abundantly prospered. 

Isaac Emerson,' son of Nathan,' a carpenter, m. Mar. 
27, 1S61, Sarah C. Pearson. Ch. Besscy Ida, b. Nov. 16, 
1863, m. Clinton De Witt Fox. Florence, b. 1869. 

Benjamin,* a inerchant in Boston, m. Martha S. Good- 
win of Milton, N.H.; 2d, Elizabeth W. Shute of Boston. 
Ch. Mary Alice. Louis B. b. 1S6S, d. 1875. K&than Good- 
7ain.'-' Albert M. b. 1S74, d. 1876. Arthur S:-> 

Silas* m. Julia (I. Rollins of Concord, N.H. Ch. AWlie. 
Alamaiizo,' a merchant, m. Annie M. Steinhilber. Ch. 
Mertie S. m. William H. Dowd. Wallace Afi Willie B? 

David L. B.* son of Nathan,' a farmer, m. May 23, 1S77, 
Lizzie Crother. Ch. David W:^ b. Sept. 18, 187S. Edward 
B:> b. May 8, 18S0. Walter F:-> b. June?, 1887. 

Franklin P.,s son of Nathan", a farmer at the mill 
homestead, m. June 22, 1879, Mary E. Hensley. Ch. 
Franklin py b. and d. 1880. Nathan H.^ b. May 26, 18S1. 
Cepri;e A.-' b. April 15, 1SS4. 

Abel Porter,'* son of Abel," in. Mar. 30, 1865, Ellen A. 
Davis. Ch. Wm/red Porter,'-> h. Aug. 3, 1S70, was one of 
the first class that graduated from Bedford High School. 
Alice Maria, b. Jan. 5. 1872. Horace Wilbur^-' b. and d. 
1874. 

(For French, see Homesteads.) 

FLIXT. The name has never been common in Bed- 
ford. Those who have settled here, as far as known, 
descended from Hon. Thomas, who came to Concord, in 
163S, from Matlock, Derbyshire, Eng. " He brought with 
him £4,000 sterling. He possessed wealth, talents, and a 
Christian character. He represented the town four years, 
from 163S to 1641, and was an assistant eleven years, 1642 
to 1653. In 1640 he was allowed to perform the marriage 
service in the towns of Concord and Sudbury. He accom- 



Flint. 



13 



GOODWIX. 



panied the Apostle Eliot in liis visits to the Indian settle- 
ments on the Merrimac River and vicinity, lie settled 
in Concord about half a mile north of the Old North 
Bridge. The house was built very near the Concord 
River, on a slight rise of land. It is said that he selected 
the spot because of its resemblance to the location which 
he left in England, near the Darwent River." He d. Oct. 
8, 1653, aged 50 years. His will is the first recorded in 
Middlesex County Probate Records. 

Abel and Edward, probably of the si.xth generation, 
were attracted to Bedford by the shoe business. Abel m. 
Susan Rowers. He d. 1S63; she d. 1887. Ch. Charles 
Lucius, b. Aug. 5, 1S32, m. Aug. 3, 1863, Lucy A. Dutton. 
Edward m. 1S31, Sarah liaeon. He d. Mar. 14, 1S73; 
she d. Sept. 13, 1875. Ch. Sura/i Caroline, b. Mar. iC, 
1S33, m. I. P. Libby, d. Aug. 25, 186S, had son Erank P. 

Sarah J. b. in Shrewsbury, Aug. 14, 1S48, is of the 
seventh generation. The line is Thomas, John, Thomas, 
John, Joel, Henry Harrison, Sarah J. She came to Bed- 
ford in 1872, as a teacher in the grammar school, m. Oct. 
II, 1S77, .Xbrani Er.glish Brown. 

Uev. Franklin C of the seventh generation, brother of 
the above, d. at .Shrewsbury, Mar. 23, 1S76, leaving family 
genealogy in process of completion. His three daughters 
were later associated with this town. They are Cyrene 
Louise, a teacher, who prepared the pen sketches for this 
volume. Genevieve Sarah, a teacher, and Marion Lenore. 

FROST, William F. son of Benjamin, b. July 26, 1S18, 
is of the tifth generation from James of Billcrica (who was 
b. 1640), m. Rebecca Cutler. She d. April 30, 1864. He 
m. 2d, .Angle P. Watts, and d. May 25, 1SS6. Had 4 ch. 
3 are living, William F., Lucy J. and Frank. 

GILLOOLY, Bryau, settled on Reuben Bacon home- 
stead in 1S7S, m. at Boston, Oct. 19, 1S52, .Margaret Doyel. 
She d. Eeb. 5, 1SS9. Ch. Mary, b. July 19, 1853, m. Nov. 
24, 1SS2, William McLaughlin, d. Nov. 17, 1884. Lizzic,h. 
Dec. I, 1854. John, b. June 9, 1S56, ni. Nov. i, 1S86, Nellie 
Vaughan. Ch. Bernard Vaughan and John .Arthur. FeUr T. 
b. Jan. 19, 1S58, ni. June 22, 1S87, Nellie Gilbert. James H. 
b. Nov. 10, 1859. Katie F. b. Feb. 12, 1862, m. July 3, 
1S81, Denis Whalen. Margaret Anne, b. Nov. 17, 1S63, 
m. Nov. 17, 18S6, Oscar Needham. Nellie A. b. Oct. 12, 
1S65. Susan Alice, b. July 30, 186S. Clara, b. Jan. 29, 
1S71. Ai^nes li. b. June 25, 1874, d. Nov. 29, 1874. 

(•LEASOX, Jonasi, was an early proprietor of the Vine 
Brook .Mill. He m. Ruth Wilson, who d. April, 1793; 
m. 2d, .Abigail Danforth, who d. Sept. 1S15. He d. Feb. 
1S15. They had 7 ch. 

The founder of the present Gleason family was Lewis 
Putnam. He was a representative of the fourth genera- 
tion in the country. The first is not known, the second 
was Elisha, and the third John Augustus, b. at Pomfret, 
Conn., June 24, 1770. 

John Ansjlistns,' m. May 12, 1799, Elizabeth Waldo, 
dau. of .Samuel Waldo and Molly, dau. of Gen. Israel Put- 
nam ("Old Put.") He d. July 11, 1842; she d. July 14, 
1846. Ch. ll Le-wis Putnam,* h. at Pomfret, Conn. Feb. 28, 
tSoo. Caroline, b. Feb. 5, 1S04, m. Daniel Clark of .Arling- 
ton. Mary li'aMo, b. Aug. 15, 1S07, m. William Webber. 
Elisabetli, b. Aug. 22, iSio, m. David Clark of Arlington. 

Lewis Pntuam,'* m. Mar. 3, 1S26, Sophronia Butler 
who d. Jan. 6, 1S27 ; m. 2d, Oct. 2, 1827, Lucy Butler, who 
d. Oct. 30, 1S46; m. 3d. Oct. 20. 1S47. Susan Davis. He d. 



Jan. 22, 1885. Ch. C(Jto//'«6-, b. and d. 1S27. \iffenry Aupis- 
/us,^ b. Jan. 6, 1829. li Charles Edwin,^ b. April iS, 1S30. 
Caroline Maria, h. June 10, 1S32, d. Jan. 27, 1833. Eliza- 
beth Frances anA \\John Francis,^ twins, b. May 23, 1S35; 
Elizabeth m. Marcus B. Webber. Lewis Putna?n' and 
Aljred VValdo,^ d. young. Leivis Putnam,^ b. June i, 1839, 
d. July 27, 1872. Lucy Caroline, d. young. 

Lewis Putnam Gleason^ early learned the trade of a 
shoemaker. At the age of twenty-one years he set out 
from his home on foot, carrying his possessions with him, 
intending to walk to the state of Maine to pay a visit to 
his Grandmother Waldo. On reaching liedford he found 
emjiloyment at his trade, and entered the service of Benja- 
min Simonds, an e.\tensive shoe manufacturer. In this 
brave and resolute young man family history seems to 
repeat itself. He started from the same point and fol- 
lowed the same route, as far as Concord, that his great- 
grandfa.her, Israel Putnam, had travelled forty-six years 
before, when his military spirit, aroused by the news of the 
attack by the British at Lexington and Concord, led him 
to mount his horse and gallop to the relief of the Provin- 
cials. The manner in which this young man grappled with 
the stern realities of life was befitting a descendant of that 
gallant general and leader in the Continental army. He 
followed the business of a shoemaker until his death. A 
window to his memory is seen in the meeting-house where 
he worshipped. 

Henry Ang'nstllS,^ son of Lewis P., shoemaker, deacon 
of Woburn church and later of Bedford church, m. Mar. 
1 1, 1852, Sarah A. Webber. She d. Dec. 23, 1876. Ch. 
b Frank IValdo,'' b. Mar. 25, 1S53, m. June 3, LSS5, Mary 
Isabel Wood of Worcester; have Jennie Frances, b. Dec. 
7, 1SS6, Waldo Wood,7 b. June 8,(890. Aljred IVcMer,^ b. 
Nov. 30, 1856, m. Oct. 19, 1887, Nelly G. Bonney. Mary 
Wilder, b. Jan. 25, 1S57, m. June i, iSSt, Edward G. Pierce. 
Herbert Leii'is,^ b. Sejjt. 15, 1861. Henry Walter,^' b. Jan. 
29, 1866, m. Sept. 25, r8S6, Eda M. Titus; ch. Harold A. 
b. June 25, 1887, and Raymond C. b. July 6, 1S91. Herman 
Pagc,*^ h. Jan. 9, 1S71. 

Charles Edwin,'' son of Lewis P.,'' deacon of Medford 
church, m. .April 12, 1S60, Caroline F. Munroe. Ch. Charles 
Munroe,'' b. April 22, 1S61, m. Dec. 15, 1886, Mary E. With- 
ington of Medford ; have Marie Withington, b. July 5, 1890. 
Alice Stearns, b. Sept. 11, 1863. Edith Clifford, b. Nov. i, 
1867. Carrie Lillian, b. Feb. .10, iSSo. 

John Francis," son of Lewis VA m. Se])t. iS, 1S61, 
Olive AL Jeffords. Ch. Edwin Putnam,'' b. May 3, 18CC. 

John Francis Gleason'' followed the business of a shoe- 
maker when young. He early manifested a literary taste, 
which was gratified as fast as personal effort would admit. 
He taught school during his preparation for Ainherst Col- 
lege, where he took a partial course. He left college, and 
entered the Union army; was later employed in the Treas- 
ury department at Washington, in which city he pursued 
the study of theology. He was settled as pastor at Wil- 
liamsburg, Mass. It was during his pastorate in that town 
that the Mill River disaster occurred, in which one hun- 
dred and twenty of his parish were lost, and he with his 
family had a narrow escape. He was later pastor at Nor- 
folk, Conn., and Xeedham, Mass. 

(lOODAVIS, Uriah' (generation uncertain), ni. Mary 
Cummings. Ch. h C'riah;- b. June 9, 17S9. Mary, b. June 
26, 179T, m. John B. Wilson. 7»«(i//y','- b. Aug. 3, 1793. 
Susan, b. Aug. iS, 1796. m. Daniel Butters, d. .Sept. 29, 



GOODWIX. 



14 



HAliTWliLL. 



1S4S. T/iomas;- b. Aug. 5, 179S, d. Feb. 23, 1S52. Sully, 
b. June 7, iSoo, d. Feb. 25, 1845. A""", b. Dec. 10, 1S03, 
m. Benjamin Russell. Steplieii;- b. April 17, 1806. d. July i, 
1S68. 

Uriah,- m. April i, 1S13, Nancy Hood of Amherst, 
N.H. He d. Mar. ig, 1859; she d. Mar. 11, 1S60. Ch. 
h Il'illiiwifi h. May 7, 1S14. h/Zentyfi b. Jan. 19, 1816. 
Themas? b. June 30, 18 18. \i Joseph H? b. Feb. 6, 1820. 

l\'llliaill,3 ni. May 26, 1836, Eliza J. Cutler of Burling- 
ton. He. d. July 29, 1S72. Ch. William E.* d. in infancy. 
Williitm N.* d. in infancy. Aim Eliza, b. 1840. WilUain 
(V.-^ b. 1846. Herbert NA d. young. 

Henry," m. Sept. 20. 183S, Sarah E. Lane. He d. Dec. 
27, 1SS5 ; she d. Dec. 2, 1890. Ch. h Henry Oliver,"^ b. June 
25, 1839. Frank IF.* b. July 4, 1841, m. Dec. 26, 186S, Sarah 
E. Roberts, who d. April 24, 1890. He is a merchant in 
New York City, and a generous friend of his hative town. 
Charles W.^ b. Sept. 4, 1843. (See Gen. History, p. 70.) 
\iJoseph AA h. Oct. 31, 1845. h Geari;e E* b. April 13, 
1847. Katherine E. b. May 28, 1857. 

Josei)h H.^ m. June 2, 1842, Adaline D. M. Gragg, who 
d. June 29, 1844 ; m. 2d, Oct. 5, 1845, Catherine A. Lane.^ 
Ch. 2 infant sons. Ann Catherine, b. and d. 1846. Mary 
Adaline, b. Jan. 2i, 1S51, m. Charles Lowe. Joseph Frank- 
lin,* d. young. Abbie Josephine, b. Jan. 20, 1855, m. Daniel 
E. Haynes. Harry Ellsworth,* b. June 27, 1S66, d. Feb. 2, 
1876. ' 

Henry Oliver,'' m. July 5, 1S60, ITarriet Paine. Ch. 
Charles H. b. Sept. 18, 1S61, d. Oct. 20, 1881. Herbert W? 
b. Oct. 17, 1S66, m. June l, 1SS7, Carrie A. M. Carter, have 
Charles H W.c b. Dec. 11, 1888. George Wfi b. April 2, 
1869, m. Nov. 12, 1889, Belle C. Foss, have Guy L." b. Dec. 
18, 1S90. 

Joseph A.'' ni. 1S76, Emma F. Ashby. Ch. Ceor.e A., 
b. Jan. 4, 187S. Frank AS' b. Dec. 31, 1882. 

Georg'e E.* m. Aug. 1874, Mary Richardson of Burling- 
ton, who d. Dec. 9, 1889; m. 2d, Feb. 12, 1S91, Mrs. Mel- 
vina M. Shedd. Ch. Chester E'> b. Feb. 18, 1877. Frank.^ 
Howard A.-> b. Dec. 25, 1880. Darrell IV.s b. May 21, 
18S2. 

(tRAGi(». The fnmily appears early in Groton, and 
later in Boston, from which city they came to Bedford. 

Oliver occupied the Joseph Hartwell farm for a while. 
Had 2 ch. settled here, Charles O. zndjosiah Q. 

Charles 0. b. Sept. 11, 1799, ni. Nov. 15, 1821, Eliot 
Reed. He d. June 4, 1874 ; she d. Mar. 26, 1879. Ch. 
Caroline E. b. Sept. 25, 1822, m. Isaac Blanchard; m. 2d, 
George Baker, d. June 25, 1881. Ltiey A. b. June 20, 1824, 
m. Silas HoUis, d. June 8, 1847. Charles, Jr. A. an infant. 
Charles C. b. Feb. 2, 1827, m. Nov. i, 1S54, Sarah A. 
Hartwell of Littleton. Sarah Alice, b. Oct. 22, 1828, m. 
Albert T. Bacon. Helen M. b. May 29, 1S31, m. Amos 
Hill. Emily C. h. May 31, 1833, m. William Brimblecom; 

m. 2d, Moseley. William H. and Mary Josephine, 

d. young. Mary Josephine, b June 29, 1842, m. Charles 
Moseley, d. Dec. 25, 1873. Harriet A. b. 1845, t"- Edward 
Gerry, d. Oct. 17, 1880. Edward P. b. Oct. 10, 1S47, d. 
Feb.' II, 1S68. 

Josiah Q., depot master at Bedford for several years, 
m. Mary Morris of Boston. 

Jacob, of Groton, later of Boston, settled in this town. 
He d. 1S45; 1st wife died in Boston. He m. 2d, Deborah 

.Shipley of Groton. Ch. Sally, m. Harris. Harriet, 

m. Richard Blinn ; m. 2d, Oliver W. Lane. Mary A. m. 



David Townsend. John. Louisa, m. Justus P. Hastings. 
Frank. William. Adaline, m. Joseph H. Goodwin. 

HARTFORD, Dudley, son of Daniel and Harriet 
(Brown), b. in Billerica, 1840, m. Emma Woodward, settled 
in Bedford, June, 1S79; florist, selectman and assessor in 
1891. 

HARTWELL — sometimes spelled HEARTWELL. — 
The crest of the family arms shows the hart or deer drink- 
ing at a well, indicating that the more popular spelling of 
the name may be correct. 

William, 1 the founder of the family in New England, 
came to this country about 1636, and, as appears, directly 
to Concord. It is uncertain whether he was one of the 
little company of pioneers who followed Rev. Peter Bulk- 
ley through the wilderness to Musketaquid (Concord), in 
the fall of 1635; but it is certain that he was of the com- 
pany in 1636, as he received nine acres in the first allot- 
ment of land, on which to erect a dwelling. It was located 
about one mile eastward from the public square of Con- 
cord. Mr. Hartwell is supposed to have been twenty-three 
years old when he came to this country, and was made a 
freeman of the colony in 1642. He appears in 1653 as a 
petitioner for the tow-n of Chelmsford, and was an impor- 
tant and useful man in every respect. He was without 
doubt accompanied by a young wife in his pioneer work, 
and their children were probably all born in Concord. 

There is a difference of opinion in writers of the Hart- 
well family as to the name of the wife of William,^ and it 
has been recorded that the wife of his youth died, and that 
he had a second wife ; but we think the best evidence leads 
to the conclusion that he had but one, and that her name 
was Jazan. The uncommon name being incorrectly spelled 
and poorly written was taken for Jessie, and later for Susan, 
which may reasonably e.xplain the confusion. Willianii pro- 
vides for his wife Jazan in his will probated in 1690. He 
died March 12 of that year. She died Aug. 5, 1695. "^^^ 
place of their burial is uncertain, but |)riibab y on the t»ld 
Burial Hill. 

There is some difference in opinion as to the number of 
children born to William. ^ He remembers by his will 
daughters Sarah and Mary and sons John and Samuel 
All agree that there was a Marthn, who must have died 
before her father; and some authorities assign to his fam- 
ily William, Jonathan, and Nathaniel, but of such we find 
no convincing record. 

The almost universal custom of perpetuating the Chris- 
tian name of the father through the first son, and of the 
mother through the first daughter, inclines us to the belief 
that there was a William who died young. We find no 
proof of the mother's name having been given to any mem- 
ber of the family. 

It is uncertain how early the founder of the Hartwell 
family located in the territory that became Bedford, if he 
did at all. In 1666, when the selectmen of Concord under- 
took to adjust the question of land titles, Mr. Hartwell 
appears as the owner of two hundred and forty-one or 
two hundred and forty-seven acres, in nineteen separately 
described lots. He was one of the overseers of the "East 
Quarter" about 1650. It is certam that his land extended 
from the first highway, "Virginia Road," northward; and 
that a "trodden path," later a public way, led to the 
Hartwell residences, and that his sons located at what is 
now known as McGovern's and Hosmer's. (.See Home- 
steads.) 



Hartwkll. 



15 



Ha KT WELL. 



The known cli. of William^ and Jazan Hartwell are 
\iJohn? b. Feb. 23, 1640-1. \\Samuel? b. Mar. 26, 1645. 

Martha, b. April 25, 1649. ^fary. b. , m. Jonathan 

Hill of billerica, d. Feb. 1694-5. Sitrtih, b. , m. Benja- 
min Parker, d. July iS, 1674. 

Johll,-son of William,! m. June i, 1664, Priscilla Wright, 
who d. Mar. 3, 16S0-1 ; rn. 2d, Aug. 23, 1682, Elizabeth (her 
sister). He d. Jan. 12, 1702-3; she d. Dec. 16, 1704. Ch. 
Ebenczer? b. Feb. 23, 1666-7, ni- Sarah .Smedley. John? 
b. April 15, 1669, m. Sarah .Shepard. Samuel? b. Oct. 9, 
1673, d. Dec. 31, 1694. Sarah, b. April 12, 1677, m. Eben- 
ezer Lamson. William,^ b. Feb. 20, 167S-9. By 2d wife, 
Joseph? b. Jan. 24, 16S0-1, m. Ruhamah Cutler, d. Nov. 3, 
1743. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 23, 16S4. Edward? b. May 23, I 
16S9. Joiuithatt?h. Feb. 15, 1691-2, m. Elizabeth Hrown ; ' 
m. 2d, Sarah Wheeler. 

John Hartwell- was in King Philip's War, Capt. Thomas 
Wheeler's company, and marched to the defence of Qua- 
boag (Hrookfiekl). The birth of John^ is the first event of 
reliable date in the history of the family in .America. He 
died intestate. An agreement between his children was 
made Mar. 12, 1704-5, signed with mark by Ebenezer, 
John. Elizabeth, William (by attorney), Joseph, Ebenezer 
Lamson (husband of Sarah), Edward and Jonathan (by 
their guardian). 

SailHiel,-'son of William,' m. Oct. 26,1665, Ruth Wheeler. 
Ch. Samuel? b. Oct. 6, 1666, m. Abigail Stearns of Uillerica, 
d. Nov. 27, 1744. Mary, b. Feb. 16, 1667-S. Kuth, b. Oct. 
17, 1669. ll William? b. .Aug. 16, 1671. John? b. June 18, 
1673, "'■ Deborah. He d. Nov. 16, 1746; she d. June 
14, 1744. (See epitaph.) They gave a silver cup to the 
church. Hannah, b. Oct. 8, 1675, ■"■ Thomas Hosmer, d. 
Jan. 5, 1755. Thomas Hosmer was son of Thomas and 
grandson of James; killed at Sudbury fight by the Indians. 
Elizabeth, b. Oct. 23, 1677. Sarah, b. July 10, 1679. Abi- 
gail, b. May i, 16S1. Rebecca, b. Feb. 14, 1682-3, m. Simeon 

Hayward"; m. 2d, Temple. She d. Mar. 29, 1776. 

Jane, b. Nov. 30, 16S4. Joseph,* d. young. Jonathan* 

Samuel Hartwell- was in Philip's War, probably in the 
" hungry march " against the stronghold of Philip. He 
received land for his services. 

William,^ son of Samuel,^ m. Ruth. lie d. Dec. 11, 
1742 ; she d. Feb. 17, 1752. (See epitaph.) Ch. li William,* 
b. Nov. 5, 1703. Ruth, b. May 14, 1705, m. Hacon. Doro- 
thy, b. Mar. 27, 1707, m. Arnall. \i Daniel,* b. Mar. 20, 
1709 or 1710. Received his father's walking cane by will. 
\l Timothy,* \). Sept. 15, 1712. \i Stephen.* b. 17 16. \\ Jo- 
seph,* b. Jan. 17, 1722-3. 

William Hartwell,^ son of Samuel,'' was second layman 
in the foundation members of the church, 1730, and gave 
£^ towards starting the town. 

William,'' son of William,^ was active in town at the 
same time. They died within four years of each other. 
It is ditticult to separate their acts. When the vote was 
taken as to whether candidates for church membership 
should give in a "confession of their faith to be read in 
public," the name appears among the affirmative voters 
and also among the negatives. William Hartwell was 
chairman of the committee to call the first minister, q.v. 

Willinill,' son of William,' m. Deborah. He d. .'\pril 
20, 1746; she d. Dec. 31, 1745. Ch. Oliver,^ b. Jan. 30, 1728, 
d. Dec. 14, 1745. Joseph? b. Nov. 3, 1730, probably set- 
lied in Vt. irHliam? d. young. James? b. June i, 1739. 
Riilti. b. June 17, 1740, d. Feb. 8, 1772. Timothy? d. young. 



Daniel,'' son of William,^ m. June i j, 1734, Sarah Wil- 
son. He d. July 10, 1745. Ch. Daniel? b. Mar. 14, 1735. 
Sarah, b. Oct. 4, 1736. Solomon? b. -April 20, 1739, m. Aug. 
9, 1759, Abigail Davis. William? b. Sept. i, 1743. Eliza- 
beth, b. Oct 20, 1745. 

Timothy,'' son of William,' m. Mar. 24, 1736-7, Mary 
Davis. He d. Dec. 27, 1797; she d. .April 22, 1808. 
Ch. 2 d. in infancy, and Timothy^, not recorded, who m. 
Oct. 7, 1790, Lucy Davis, and had George^, b. Mar. 17, 
1791. 

Stephen,^ son of William,' m. Dec. 31, 1741, Mary Ray- 
mond, who d. July 12, 1752; m. 2d, Rebecca, widow of 
Eleazer Davis. She d. Aug. 17, 1790; he d. July 12, 1792. 
Ch. Alary, b. Dec. 19, 1742, m. May 11, 1762, Francis Wil- 
son, Jr. Abigail, b. -Aug. 15, 1744, m. Jan. 9, 1766, Jona- 
than Simonds (?) Tabitha, b. Nov. 24, 1746. Stephen? b. 
Oct. 12, 1749, m. Jan. 19, 1775, .Sarah Reed. Riilh, b. Mar. 

1, 1752. \lS'amuel?h. Feb. 1756. 

Joseph,''* son of William,' m. Dec. 12, 1750, Jemima 
Katchelder. He d. July 7, 1792; she d. July 13, 1786. 
Ch. Joseph? d. young. Jemima, b. Sept. 6, 1753, m. Eben- 
ezer Cummings of Woburn. John? b. May iS, 1755, m. 
April 17, 1787, Elizabeth Moore, lived in Littleton, d. Mar. 
17, 1827. Their son, Dea. John, possessed a remarkable 
talent for music. He played the base viol forty years in 
Littleton church. His daughter, Sarah A., m. Charles C. 
Gragg of Bedford. Lydia, b. Nov. i, 1757, d. Feb. 13, 
1788. Hannah, b. July 9, 1759, m. John Skelton of Bil- 
lerica, d. Sept. 8, 1831. Ruth, b. Feb. 2, 1761, m. June 3, 
1788, Joseph Porter, Jr., d. Nov. 25, 1843. \i Joseph^, b. May 
9, 1762. Dolly, b. Jan. 10, 1764, m. Abraham Whitcomb, 
d. Aug. 12, 1841. Timothy? b. Sept. 7, 1765. Molly, b. 
April 5, 1769. \\William? b. June 25, 1770. 

Saillliel,^ son of Stephen,'' m. Oct. 26, 1779, Mrs. Desire 
Brown, dau. of Joseph and Desire (Batchelder). Hed. April 

2, 1S23; she d. Aug. 30, 1824. They had no children. 
They made bequests to the church, minister and Ameri- 
can Education Society, and to relatives. Among the 
bequests of Desire Hartwell was her tall clock, in the 
bottom of which was a quantity of silver dollars, to her 
niece, Hannah Evans. 

Jo.sepll,= son of Joseph,'' m. July 3, 1S04, Elizabeth 
Mead. He d. .Aug. 3, 1840; she d. .Aug. 16, 1S45. Ch. 
\\ Joseph? b. May 26, 1S06. 

William,^ son of Joseph,'' m. Oct. 13, 1796, Joanna, 
dau. of Eleazer Davis, who d. Oct. 30, 1S08; m. 2d, April 
6, 1809, Mary Lake. He d. May 8, 1S19; she d. Jan. 4, 
1S54. Ch. \William? b. Jan. 12, 1797. \\ Amos? b. Aug. 

3, 1798. h Benjamin P'arlev? b. June 8, 1800. Ix Joseph? 
b. April 7, 1S02. Isaac? b. Mar. 1, 1804, m. June 19, 
1S62, Lucy Frost, d. Dec. 6, 1S84. He was quiet and 
industrious, and accumulated wealth. Mary Joanna, h. 
May 17, 1S06, m. Nov. 3, 1863, Robert Hartley. \iJohii 
Batchelder? b. June 21, 1808. By 2d wife, Samuel Chand- 

\ ler? b. Feb. 4, iSio. Louisa, b. Dec. 31, 181 1, m. Elias 
Skelton. George? b. Aug. 4, 1814, settled in California. 
Infant son, b and d. iSi8. Ehlridge? b. Jan. 5, 1S20. 

Si.x of the sons of William Hartwell'^ attained the aggre- 
gate age of 475 years, .and the average of 79 i-6 years. 
Isaac* and Benjamin'' died within eight days of each other, 

* Densmore's valu-ible liand-book of Hartwell Genealogy assigns this 
Joseph to William,* and thus gains a generalion ; but the records and 
tombstone prove that he w.is born in 1722-3, and we think must have 
been a son of William.''^ 



Hartwell. 



16 



Hartwell. 



at the age of 8i and 84, respectively. \Villiam'' and John'" 
died within five days of each other, aged 91 and So, respect- 
ively 

Joseph, 'J son of Joseph,^ m May 5, 1831, Naomi S. 
Thompson, who d. May 5, 1S40; m. 2d, Dec. 30, 1840, Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Page) Taylor. He d. Feb. 25, 1869. Ch. Alary 
A., b. April iS, 1S32, m. Amos Stearns, d. Jan. 20, 1864. By 
2d \v\ie,J/t!rl/ia/. b. Jan. 25, 1S42, m. May 25, 1S70, George 
S. Skeltnn of Carlisle. £Ui)i E. b. May 28, 1S43, ■''■'■ Sept. 
23, 1S74, Archibald M. Wilkins. Haniet F. b. April 28, 
1S46, m. George H. Button. (See Hartwell Homesteads.) 

'William,'' son of William,^ m. Nov. 30, 1826, Ruhamah 
Webber. She d. Aug. 31, 1879; he d. Jan. 14, 1SS8. 
Ch. William W? b. Oct. 2, 1827. Joanna, b. Nov. i, 1S29. 
Lydia E. b. Mar. 15, 1835. 

The family first settled in Concord, then on a farm in 
Le.\infiton, now conducted by the son. Joanna attended 
the normal school at Newton, and was a successful teacher 
for years. 

Amos,'' son of William,'' ni. June 20, 1S22, Louisa 
Hodfiman. He d. July 25, 1870; she d. Nov. 17, 1878. 
Ch. Sarah Joanna, b. and d. 1823. Mary, b. Mar. 19, 1825, 
m. Nov. 27, 1S45, Josiah li. Gleason. Sarah, b. Feb. 24, 
1827, m. Jan. i, 1S51, Royal T. Bryant. \i. Edward Amos^' 
b. Sept. 23, 1828. ll William Green,' b. Dec. i, 1834. Abby 
Louisa, b. June 1 5, 1839, a teacher for several years, li Fred- 
erick Aionzo,' b. June 13, 1S41. 

Amos Hartwell, at the age of twenty years, through the 
death of his father, was left, with his step-mother, in charge 
of the farm and several young children. He married, 1822, 
Louisa Hodgman, a woman of great energy and executive 
ability, and for a while manufactured shoes. They invested 
their limited means in the Stephen Davis farm, where they 
reared a large family and accumulated a most respectable 
fortune. Their six children were given the benefit of aca- 
demic training in addition to the educational advantages 
of the town, which by private subscription Mr. Hartwell 
aided in improving. The three daughters were successful 
teachers. The closing years of Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell were 
spent at the John Merriam residence in the village. .Mr. 
Hartwell was a justice of the peace for fourteen years, set- 
tled many estates, conducted the affairs of minors, and was 
prominent in town office. He was representative to the 
General Court four years. He was deacon of the Church 
of Christ from 1S26 till death, in 1S70; was superintendent 
of the Sabbath school eighteen years, and enjoyed the con- 
fidence of the townspeople till death. A window to his 
memory was placed, by his children, in 1886, in the meet- 
ing-house which he aided in building, and where he was a 
consistent worshipper of God, whom he loved and taught 
his family to worship. 

son of William," m. Nov. 13, 1S2S, Lucy Webber, who d. 
April 20, 1S34; m. 2d, Jan. 20, 1835, Mary F. Fitch, who 
d. May 15, 1871 ; m. 3d, Nov. 17, 1875, M'"''- Nancy Brooks. 
He d. Dec. 14, 18S4. Ch. Lucy, b. and d. 1830. Lncy Ann, 
b. and d. 1832. By 2d wife, Lucy IVcbber, b. Jan. 16, 1837, 
m. Nov. 25, 1S5S, Hannibal S. Pond. Mary Alzina, b. 
Feb. 21, 1S39, m. Jan. i, 1861, Matthew R. Fletcher. 

Benjamin F. Hartwell'' spent his most active years on 
the Convers Farm at South Bedford (see illustration), and 



later lived with his second wife, Mary F. Fitch, at her 
paternal homestead in the centre. He had been a mem- 
ber of the church sixty-seven years, and a useful and 
honored citizen. Lucy W. (Hartwell) Pond lived at her 
homestead at South Bedford. She was killed by being 
thrown from a carriage Oct. 2, i860. Mary A. (Hartwell) 
Fletcher lived at Arlington some years, returned to Bed- 
ford with her husband in 1884, and located on her mater- 
nal acres. (See Homesteads.) 

Joseph,'^ son of William," m. May 5, 1833, Hannah 
Hodgman. He d. Aug. 2, 1868; she d. Jan. 23, 18SS. 
Ch. iVancy, b. and d. 1834. }\ Joseph Edxoin' and Hannah 
^//xrt/vM, twins, b. May 13, 1835; Hannah E. m. George 
H. Smith, d. Mar. 30, 1890. h Charles Henry,' b. Oct. 5, 
1S36. Nancy Jane, b. Jan. 3, 1S38, m. Charles M. Stratton, 
d. Jan. 31, 1S76. Elltu Francena, b. July iS, 1839, m. 
Hannibal S. Pond, d. Feb. 15, 1865. Caroline Augusta, 
b April 9, 1841, m. George W. Livermore. ll /<>//« Albert!; 
b. Jan. 9, 1843. \i George Alfred; 'b.T)tc.T,\%i^^. \\ Isaac 
A'ewton,'' b. Nov. 28, 1846. Benjamin Franklin; b. and d. 
1S48. Frank; b. June 28, 1850. Addie Maria, d. young. 

Joseph Hartwel* was a flourishing farmer and teamster, 
and a man of great endurance. 

John Batl'helder,'' m. July 14, 1S32, Julia Ann Har- 
rington. He d. Jan. 19, 1888; she d. Feb. 21, 1S90. Ch. 
John Henry; b. Jan. 16, 1835. Charles Frederick; b. Mar. 
29, 1844. 

John B. Hartwell settled in West Cambridge (Arling- 
ton) in 1836, was a carpenter by trade, and built many 
houses. He was se.xton of the Unitarian church for thirty 
years, and funeral undertaker of the town forty-three years ; 
and was in other public offices, which he faithfully filled. 

Samuel Chandler,'' son of William,^ was an architect 
and builder in New Orleans, La., m. Mrs. Eliza Thomas. 
He d. June 22, 1844. Ch. Alice L. b. 1837, m. 185S, John 
Lockhart. Charles C." b. 1839, m. 1863, Catherine Lacy. 
He is a plumber and gas-fitter in New Orleans, and a man 
of wealth and influence. Ch. Eliza A. b. 1865. Ellen A. 
b. 1867. Samuel C* b. 1869. Charles A. L.* b. 1871. 
Lawrence S.^ b. 1873. 

Eldridge,'' son of William,^ m. Nov. i, 1843, Lucy P. 
Reed. Ch. h Edwin A.' h. Sept. 12, 1S45. Ella Louisa, 
b. Sept. II, 1852, d. Nov. 28, 1853. 

Eldridge Hartwell'' and son, Edwin A.," are both house- 
builders, and located in their native town. 

Edward Amos,' son of Amos,^ m. Oct. 13, 1S60, Al- 
mira Chamberlin. Ch. Waller Chawbcrlin,>' d. young. Car- 
rie Louise, b. Aug. 4, 1864, m. Sept. 16, 1S90, George M, 
Ludlow. Lydia Cornelia, h. Nov. 29, 1867. Almira Flor- 
ence, b. July 23, 1869. Abbie Gertrude, b. Oct. 6, 1871. 
Mary Belle, b. May 23, 1875. Edward Chamberlin,^ d. 
young. 

Edward Amos Hartwell went, in 1S52, to California, 
where he spent a year in gluch mining, then three in car- 
pentering ; was at Quincy, III., in mill business, until 1859; 
then to New Orleans, La., and later to Chicago, in the 
manufacture of sash, blinds, and builder's finish. He has 
accumulated a large fortune. In iSSS he organized his 
business into a stock company, displaying great munifi- 
cence in the gratuitous distribution of stock among his old 
and faithful employes. He has large possessions in the 
West, and in Florida, at Rockledge, where he conducts an 
orange plantation and lives during the winter. He is a 
faithful friend of the church of his youth. 



Haktwkll. 



17 



Hill. 



William Green," son of Amos," the only male repre- 
sentative of Amos'' in his native town, where he is a pros- 
perous wood and coal dealer, m. June ii, iS68, Clara A. 
Smith. Ch. EJilh Sniil/i, b. Oct. 5, 1872. Clara Howard, 
b. Nov. 25, 1S77. Lilla, b. Mar. 7, 1880. 

Frederick Aloiizo,' son of Amos.o m. Nov. 23, 1S65, 
Lavinia \. Nichols. Ch. Fannie Taylor, b. Aug. 13, 186S. 
Harry Gardnerf b. Aug. 24, 1871. Herbert Cabotf b. Mar. 
18, 1S73. William Wiiinf b. Sept. I, 1S74. Florence May, 
b. May 21, 1S76. Ernest A'icltols,* b. Feb. 25, 1878. 
Ed-.aard Amosf b. .Sept. 17, 1879. 

Frederick \. Hartwell' settled in Woburn, where he has 
conducted the provision business with marked success for 
many years. He is an honored member and liberal sup- 
porter of the Orlhodo.\ church. 

Joseph Ethvill,' son of Joseph,'' m. Dec. 25, 1S6S, .'\delia 
Babson. Lives in Brighton in winter, at Pigeon Cove in 
summer. 

("liarles Henry,' son of Joseph," m. June 10, 1S74, 
Emma J. Carr. Ch. Henry T? b. Sept. 13, 1S76. Gertrude 
A. b. April 15, 1880. Ethel. 

Charles H. Hartwell" is a successful trader in East Cam- 
bridge. 

John Albert," son of Joseph," m. June 29, 1S74-, Helen 
M. Davis Ch. Edith. 

(ieor^e Alfred," son of Joseph,'' m. Mar. 186.S, Olive 
M. Fitch. Ch. Ccoj- «•/■.* b. and d. 186S. /.i'«/.(« /•". b. Aug. 
18, 1871. 

Isaac XewtOU," son of Joseph,'' wheelwright at Bed- 
ford, ni. June i, 1S70, Elizabeth .\. Pierce. Ch. Lizzie 
ifario)!, b. Dec. 30, 1875. 

John Henry," son of John,'' m. Nov. 21, 1S61, Emeline 
-Augusta Stearns. She d. Sept. ig, 1S83. Ch. George 
Henry,'' b. Aug. 22, TS64, m. Emma I. Greenard. Addie 
Augusta, b. Oct. 29, 1S66, m. James W. Nickles. Charles 
Tildcn,'' b. Dec. 18, 1S68. Julia Almira, b. Jan. 14, 1S71. 

John H. Hartwell" is in the undertaking business in 
.Arlington. He has been chief of police and in other 
town offices. 

Charles Frederick," son of John,'' m. Mar. 29, 1S66, 
.Mary Jane looihby; ni. 2d, Mar. 29, 1884, Mrs .-\ugusta 
Anne Webster. Ch. Frederiek William,^ b. Mar. 20, 1868. 
Walter Chandler,* b. Mjiy 2, 1870. Herbert Eugene,* b. 
>tar. 12, 1872. Gertrude Eugenia, b. Nov. 14, 1S74. 

Charles F. Hartwell' followed the seas for years, and 
later the trade of a carpenter. 

Edwin A." son of Eldridge,"' m. June 21, iS6g, Mary P. 
Blood. Ch. Clara L. b. Dec. 7, 1870. 
For HAYHEN, see General History. 
H.VYNES, Daniel E. son of Daniel and Hannah (Gar- 
field), b. in Concord, May 13, 1S4S, settled in Bedford in 
1S71, ni. Abbie J. Goodwin. Ch. Mary J. b. April 27, 1872. 
Joseph E. b. July T9, 1876, d. Mar. 1, 1881. 
HAYWARU, variously spelled. 

<Jeor||ye, was an iminigrant associate with Rev. Peter 
Ilulkley, and settled at Musketaquid (Concord) in 1635. 
The line to the Bedford settler was George,' Joseph,'- 
Simebn,'' Pea. Samuel,'' Paul,^ b. April 2, 1745, ni. July 14, 
176S, .\nna White of .\cton, and had 10 ch. He d. May 
16, 1825; she d. at the age of 91, having been noted for 
piety and missionary spirit. 

Mather," Lieut., son of Paul,' the first of the name to 
settle in Bedford, was from Bo.xboro, and lived in the fam- 
ily of William Page at West liedford. He m. May i, 1800, 



Lucy Page, and d. .-\pril iS, 1850. She d. April 11, 1847. 
Ch. h Moses^' b. Dec. 30, iSoo. h Ebenezer^ b. Oct. i, 1S02. 
\lJohn White,' b. July 11, 1804. Il William Page,' b. Dec. 2, 
1807. Lucy Ann, b. Aug 8, 1S09. Mather, b. April 12, 
'iSii. Georqe IV. d. young. Caroline, b. July 31, 1816, 
d. June 20, 1S39. Maria, b. Nov. 1819, m Bowker, d. July 
4. 1858. 

Mather Hayward" inherited the William Page farm, 
which he occupied, was often in town office, and promi- 
nent in church. He was first lieutenant of the company 
of militia under Capt. Putnam, and was with the company 
when ordered to Fort Warren in iSi2. He owned the 
snare drum used on that day. 

Moses," son of Mather," m. April 30, 1829, Lucretia 
Bingham. She d. Feb. 26, 1877; he d. April 2, iSgi. 
Ch. Charlotte Lucretia, b. June 8, 1830, m. (Jen. B. F. 
Edmunds of Newton. Annie .Maria, b. Sept. 11, 1S31, 
m. Charles Coverly. Charles /?." m. Carrie .Stoddard, and 
lives at Hingham. Henrietta, m. Lewis Stoddard. Lucy, 
resides at Boston. Five d. young. 

.Moses Haywjird" was crippled in one limb from youth. 
He was educated at Westford Academy, and followed a 
mercantile business in Bedford and later in Boston. He 
was superintendent of Bedford Sabbath School, first clerk 
of Trin. Cong, society, and in many positions of trust. 
He was a foundation member of Ml. Vernon Church, 
Boston. 

Ebenezer," son of Mather,'' ni. Nov. 1S2S, Esther But- 
trick; m. 2d, M.ay 19, 1833, .Xnn S. Bingham; m. 3d, Har- 
riet Dresser. He d. July 14, 1S77. *--h. Henry E.f Sanniel 
W.,^ Esther M., Martha A., Helen M., Caroline E.. George 
B.,* and Harriet M. 

John White," son of Mather,'' m. .-Vpril 26, 1827, Lydia 
H. Lane. He d. 1866; she d. Dec. 25, 1SS4. Ch. John 
Augustus,^ h. Mar. 14, 1828, d. .Aug. 1828. Stephen Lane," 
b. Oct. 26, 1829. Harriet Frances, b. May 12, 1831. 

John W. Hayvvard'' was often in town and parish office. 
He was commissioned as captain of Le.vington artillery 
company- 
William Paire," son of .Mather,'' m. Mar. 17, 1S35, .-\bi- 
gail Maynard, Ch. Amelia B. b. .April 19, 1836. William 
Edward,'' b. May 24, 1S39, m. Susan Aude. Had 5 ch. 

William Page Hayvvard" was a manufacturer of trunks 
and valises in Lowell and Canada, and later settled in 
North Cambridge. He was deacon of North .Avenue Con- 
gregational Church from 1S57 to 1867. 

Jiatlicr," son of Mather," m. .Ann Holbrook of Boston; 
m. 2d, Caroline Chappoille of ('ambridgeport. Have 2 ch. 
living. 

HILL. The Hills were in Billerica very early. Their 
lands extended into that part of the town that was set off 
to Bedford in 1729. (See Homesteads.) I y intermarriage 
the Hills of Billerica became early interested with the 
families on the Concord side of Bedford. Ralph' w;is the 
founder of the family. Jonathan'- m. Dec. it, 16C6, Mary 
Hartwell, dau of William.i John Hartwell of Hcdford m. 
Dec. 3, 1744, Mary Bracket, widow of Jonathan Hill.^ 
William P.age'' of Bedford m. Nov. 8, 1763, Patte Hill, 
dau. of Ralph.^ Jonathan HilH m. Jan. 13, 1746, Mary 
Lane of Bedford. Oliver Pollard m. June 19, 1777, Mary 
Hill, dau. of Jonathan.-* Benjamin Lane^ of Bedford, later 
of .Ashburnharn, m. ^fay 26, 17S5, Isabel Hill, dau. of Jon- 
athan.^ Joseph HilK' m. Aug. 24, 1749, Lucy Fitch, dau. 
of Zachariah of Bedford. Jonathan' m. Dec. 13. 179S, 



Hill. 



18 



HOSMER. 



Mary Proctor o£ Bedford. Samuel Butler of "Leominster, 
later of Bedford, m. Nov. 23, 1824, Mary Hill, dau. of Jona- 
thau.5 

Uavid," apprenticed to Benj. Simonds to learn the shoe 
business at the age of iS, m. Dec. 26, 1S32, Lydia P. Hatch, 
who d. Oct. 15, 1851 ; m. 2d, Dec. 14, 1S53, Mary A. Cham- 
berlin, who d. Jan. iS, 1S60; m. 3d, May 26, 1S61, Mrs. C. 
A. Farriss. Ch. Ueiiry D.' b. Nov. 17, 1834. Alma V. 
b. May 8, 1S3S, m. May 2, 1858, George A. Pollard of 
Leominster. Had 4 ch. Mary E. b. July 27, 1847, m. 
Dec. 24, 1S67, Wallace A. Kowell. Had i son, Byron H. 
d. Sept. 10, 1890. 

Josiall,'' lived on Bedford homestead, ni. June 8, 1789, 
Susanna Davis, dau. of DanieH of Bedford. She d. Feb. 
15, 1818 (see epitaph); he d. Mar. 15, 1840. Ch. JosiaA,'^ 
b. July II, 1791, was a clergjman at Methuen in 1S32, and 
later at Lynnfield. Joseph^ b. Feb. 23, 1793, m. Susan 
Bacon of F!edford, d. Mar. 4, 1831. Elijah Baconfi b. April 
24, 1795. m. Lucy Johnson, d. Mar. 29, 1865. Susannah, 
b. April 30, 179S, m. Dea. Joel Fitch. Two d. young. 
Artcmasf\>. Oct. 5, i8og, m. Betsey Roby; m. 2d, Sophia 
WilUins. Lived in Billerica and Carlisle, h Constantiuc,^ 
b. May iS, 1S12. 

Coiistaiitine,'' son of Josiah,^ lived on Bedford home- 
stead, m. Nov. 7, 1834, Martha Pratt of Dunstable, who d. 
Jan. 27, 1850; m. 2d, Mrs. Sarah (Whitford) Webber, who 
d. May 30, 1S53; "'■ S''' Lucy Davis Richardson. He d. 
Aug. 25, 1872. Ch. Martha Maria, b. Oct. 28, 1835, m. 
Samuel Sage of Bedford. Mary Ellen, b. Nov. 13, 1837, 
m. John DeCanip of Cincinnati. John Henry^' b. Jan. 19, 
1S39, m. Jennie Buhner of New Jersey. William IVarren,' 
b. July 3, 1S44. George Worth, b. Feb. 10, 1S46, m. .\nn 
M. Brown. Sarah Ailelaide, b. Sept. 6, 1851, m. Richard 
R. Anderson. Josiah Constantine, d. an infant. 

Amos W." son of Brewer'' and Celinda Carpenter, b. 
Oct. iS, 1S26, m. 1S4S, Helen M. dau. of Charles O. Gragg. 
Ch. Charles Eugene,^ b. May 22, 1849, m. 1880, Celia Wat- 
kins of Elgin, 111. Hele7i A. b. Oct. 11, 1851, m. 1872, 
Fred C. Potter of Waltham, d. 1880. William H.i b. Feb. 
5, 1S57, ni. 1S78, Meda Hayes of Waltham. \\Ralph W.^ 
b. Nov. 22, 1S59, m. 18S5, Emma Godber of Waltham. 
Ch. Walter /.'< b. Mar. 7, 1SS6. Ralph C? b. Mar. 15, 
188S. 

John Breiver,^ son of Brewer" and Celinda Carpenter, 
b. Oct. 29, 1S22, m. Nov. 27, 1850, Mary L dau. of George 
Dutton and Lydia (Jaquith). Ch. Fred Bertrand,^ b. July 
7, 1S52, m. Fannie L'abson. Joseph Augustine,^ b. Feb. 19, 
1854, m. Emma Cades. Lizzie Estelle, b. Sept. 5, 1861, 
m. Langdon B. Pearson. 

HOAR, Edimilld, son of Leonard of Lincoln, m. Nov. 
29, 1S27, Betsey Wright. He d. Mar. 7, 1857; she d. June 
5, 1SS9. Ch. Caroline P. b. Sept. 9, 1S30, m. Daniel S. 
Pratt of Brattleboro, Vt. Alfred H. b. July 27, 1832, m. 
Mary Bemis. Had 4 ch. Edmund and Edward, twins, 
b. July 20, 1835; Edmund m. Salome Emerson; Edward 
m. Jennie Fessenden, and, 2d, Emma Kratezer. Georgw E 
m. Lizzie Gray. Joseph H. a succcessful merchant in New 
York City, m. Ada Van Iderstein. Mary Frances, m. Ben- 
jamin F. Parker. She, with son Stanley, perished in the 
Old Colonv Railroad accic.ent at Quincy, August, 1S90. 
Maria A. b. Jan. 1846, m. J. Franklin Mansfield. Charles 
E. b. Oct. 1852, m. April 20, 1S76, Emma P. Talbot. 
Have 2 ch. The sons have legally taken the maiden name 
of mother, Wright. 



HODGDOS, Irviug L., son of Joseph AL and Cath- 
erine A. Smith, b. in Lowell Dec. 3, 1S51, settled in Bed- 
ford 1875, m. Viola A. Smith. Selectman and assessor 
1S91. 

Harrisou 1)., son of Joseph M. and Catherine A. Smith, 
b. in Lowell June 15, 1863, m. Fannie A. Hill. Ch. Mabel 
G. b. April iS, 1SS3. Joseph S. b. Mar. 4, 1885. 

HOSMER, James,! b. 1607, d. Feb. 7, 16S5 in Concord. 
He was a clothier, of Hawkhurst, Kent Co., Eng., and 
came in ship " Elizabeth " from London in 1635, with his 
wife, two daughters, and two maid servants; settled in Con- 
cord, Sept. 1635; was freeman May 17, 1637. Had 8 ch. 

Stephen,- son of James by his 3d wife, Alice or Ellen, 
b. Nov. 27, 1642, freeman in 1690, ni. .Abigail Wood, d. Dec. 

15, 1714. 

Jolni,^ son of Stephen and Abigail, b. Aug. 31, 1671, 
ni. Mary Billings, d. 1751. 

John,'* son of John and Mary, b. July 24. 1700, m. Aug. 
26, 1724, Mehitable Parker, d. Dec. 14, 1733. 

Johu,^ son of John,'' b. May 17, 1725, m. Martha Web- 
ber of Medford, d. in Medford, Nov. 17, 1771. Ch. Martha, 
b. Jan. 21, 1756. Martha, 2d, b. Oct. 11, 1762. Benjamin,^ 
b. June 30, 1766, a physician in Gilsoni, N.H. 

Jolm,'^ b. May 10, 1758, in Medford. Removed to 
Le.\ington, where he was a member of Capt. Parker's 
company at the Battle of Le.\ington. He afterwards 
fought at White Plains, Oct. 28, 1776; at Ticonderoga, 
July 5, 1777; and at Stillwater, Sept. 19 and Oct. 7, 1777. 
He was educated in prepaiation for Harvard College, but 
at the death of his benefactress, Mme. Ryall, he became a 
shoemaker. He m. Jan. 21, 17S1, Anna Fosgate of Bol- 
ton. He removed from Le.\ington to Shrewsbury, and 
thence, in about 1790, to Bedford, where he lived and 
brought up his large family. He d. in New Ipswich, N.H., 
Sept. 17, 1839. Ch. h Christopher Page^' b. May i, 1782. 
John,' b. June 26, 1784. \\Castalio,' b. April 6, 17S6. 
Martha, b. Feb. 15, 178S. Anna, b. Oct. 22, 17S9. Julia, 
b. June 3, 1791. Clarissa, b. Sept 6, 1792. Benjamin,' b. 
Oct. 20, 1794. \iLeander,' b. April 5, 1796. 'hGustavus,' 
b. Nov. 26, 179S. 

I'liristopllCl" Pag'e,' m. Feb. 29, 1S12, Nancy Thomp- 
son of Woburn, d. Sept. 19, 1834. Had 10 ch. Sally Bond, 
b. Mar. 27, 1820, m. Jan. i, 1843, John Clark. Removed 
to Amherst, where she now lives. Oren Stanley,^ b. Oct. 

16, 1829, m. .'Vug. I, 1S60, Charlotte A. Emery of Tufton- 
boro, N.H. Had. 3 ch. 

Castalio,' shoe manufacturer in Bedford, lieutenant in 
war of 1812, m. Mrs. Ruth (Clarke) Pool of Braintree. 
Ch. \iEbenezer Clari,^ b. July 4, 1806. Anna Fosgate, b. 
Mar. 28, 180S. Elias Pool,^ b. Mar. ii, 1810. Sarah, b. 
Dec. 21, 1811. Lucinda, b. May 12. 1814. Laura, b. May 
19, 1817. Castalio,^ b. May 16, 1819. Charles,^ b. Nov. 6, 
1820. Granville? b. Sept, 25, 1822. 

Leailder," farmer and shoemaker, m. Sophronia Wilson 
of Billerica, d. Oct. 6, iSSS. Ch. \\Henry,^ b. Nov. :8, 
1818. Angelina, b. April i, 1820, m. Rev. John H. Carr, 
was a missionary in Indian Territory, d. Sept. 28, 1864. 
Ann Maria, b. Sept. 2, 1S21, m. Nathaniel P. Watts. 
h Thomas BaUhoin? b. Aug. 27, 1822. Caroline Matilda, 
b. Jan. 6, 1825, m. Edward Foster. Martha Eliza, b. April 
24, 1S27, m. Isaac. L. Watts. \\.William Augustus,^ b. Oct. 
16, 1S29. Sophronia, b. Mar. 28, 1833, d. young. Jerome,^ 
b. Oct. 10, 1834. Charles Edwardf b. May 25, 1837. 

Glistavns,' m. Julia Vilson of Westford, d. Nov. 24, 



HOSMER. 



19 



Lane. 



iSjS. Cli. George? b. July 6, 1822, wholesale boot and 
shoe dealer in Boston. Edwinf b. about iSsC. Mehina. 

EI)eiU'/er Clark,' b. July 4, 1S06, farmer, ni. Mary Ann 
Muzzey of Lexington, d. Sept. 9, 18S6. Ch. Ebenezer Bat- 
tellef b. May 5, 1S30. Harriet BatletU, b. Oct. 13, 1835, 
m. James Clark. Ellen Bcr.i'ers, b. Mar. 1S45, ™- I^obert 
Rushlon. Charles Mtizzeyf b. Sept. 17, 1S49. John Muz- 
zey,'^ b. April 14, 1S53. 

Henry,* son of Leander," m. Catherine G. Cook of 
Salem. He d. in Civil War, q.v. Ch. Randall Ditsoii? b. 
1850. Hilton Fosgate? b. Oct. 1S52. 

Tlionins ]tnl<hvill,^ son of Leander," dentist in Boston 
and lieoford. justice of the peace, has been in town office, 
m. July 29, 1849, Hannah Heald of Carlisle. Charlotte 
Maria, b. June 29, 1S51. William Augustus^' b. June 12, 
1856. Ernest Jhmjard^" b. Dec. 12, 1S62, grad. Harvard 
College, 1SS6, studied divinity and medicine. 

Williniii Aujrustlis,* son of Leander,' mantel maker, 
m. .Sarah Hewes of Ko.xbury, d. Jan. 6, 1856. Ch. Sophro- 
nia, b. May 1851. Hattie. 

€'liarles Edward,* son of Leander," of Brown Univer- 
sity (1S61) and Harvard Medical School (1867), m. Sarah 
Breck of Brighton. He has been a physician in Waltham, 
Boston, and BiUerica, and principal of a young ladies' 
boarding school in Boston. At Hillerica he was chairman 
of school commitiee, president Bennett Library, and choir- 
master in First Church. He was in the Civil War, q.v. 
Had 5 ch. 

William Alljju.stus,'' son of Thomas B.* watchmaker 
in Waltham, studied at Lawrence Academy, Groton, alder- 
man in Waltham (1890 and 1891), m. Fannie S.. Tarbell of 
Hartford, Vt. 

HUGHES, John, m. Alice Taylor. She m. 2d, Wil- 
liam Keed, d. Feb. 18.S7. Ch. IVil/iam B. b. Oct. 12, 1848. 
Sarah Jane, b. and d. 1S50. Samnel T. b. 1S52, d. 1S61. 

IVilliaill B. m. July i, 1872, Lucy Alice Puffer. Ch. 
Samuel '/'. b. ,\pril 2t, 1874. Alice Reed, b. Dec. 13, 1S77. 
Emma J. b. Jan. 1, 1880. 

HURU, TllCdlias, a tavern keeper of Bedford, m. Dec. 
iSil, Mary W. Hoar. Ch. Afary E. h. Julv iS, 1S15, m. 
Sept. 30, 1851, Charles Jones of Boston. 

JACKSOX, Joshua,' b. in Middleboro, Mass., 1737, 
d. 1830. He served seven years in the Revolution, and 
returned home wearing a knapsack that contained nine 
bullet holes. Ch. \\Josiali- and \i/oshua:- 

Josiah,- b. at Newton, Mass., removed to Paris, Me., 
m. Deborah Churchill. He d. at the age of 70 years, 
and she at 99 years. Ch. Haltie, Hannah, Clara, h/oshua,^ 
George? and Charles.^ 

Joshua,'' b. 1821, came to Bedford in 1S42, m. 1845. 
Mary Pierce. Ch. A/ary S. b, April 1846, m. 1868, Warren 
Houghton of Northfield, Vt. d. 1SS7. /osiah jV* b. 184S, 
d. 1S71. ll George //.* b. 1850. \\ IVilliam A* b. 1S55. 
Charles,* h. and d. 1857. Alice L. b. 1S59, m. Quincy S. 
Cole. 

GeoVjJl' H.^ a provision dealer in Lexington, m. 1S73, 
Flora E. Wcntworth of Lexington. She d. July 21, 1883. 
Ch. George 0.5 William A-> and Mabel E. 

IVilliam A.* merchant in Faneuil Hall Market, Boston, 
m. 1S7S, Ida M. Garmon of East Lexington. She d. 1885. 
Ch. William Leroy,^ b. 1SS5. 

JOHXSOX, Obadiali Perry, son of Asa and Sarah 
Perrv, b. at Rindge, N.H., iSii, m. Jan. 3, 1S33, .Abigail 
>L Keed, who was b. at Ashby, Feb. 5, TSt3. Ch. Edwin 



A. m. Mary E. Jones of Maine. Have Herbert L. and 
Edgar N. Alfred Perry, grad. Harvard College (1S61) 
and Andover Seminary (1S66), was in the Union army and 
clergyman in the West, m. Terrie E. Shively of Indiana. 
Have Blanche, Edward, and Terrie. Marcus R. was in 
Civil War, q.v., m. Nellie L. Wilson of Massachusetts. 
Have Mabel Arthur, Mary Elsie, and George. Ahbie M. 
m. Edward Gooding of Massachusetts. Have Ethel R., 
m. J. Forest Bell, M.D., of Illinois. 

This Johnson family, now extinct in this town, was for 
many years prominent, helpful, and highly respected. 

JOSES, Timofhy,^ son of John-* and Abigail, b. May 
I, I74.'S, m. Rebecca Putnam. His paternal ancestors in 
four generations were John. (See military history and 
epitaphs.) 



Ephraim, from Boston, m. Eliza Brown of Lincoln, 
and settled on a portion of the David Reed farm. He d. 
Nov. 27, 1861 ; she d. June 7, 1885, and left a legacy to the 
chuich. A tablet to her memory is seen in the chapel. 
Ch. Charles H. a successful merchant in Natick, ni. Anna 
Lowe. Have 5 ch. 



Elhridge, from Merrimack, N.H., ni. 1836, Abigail 
Stickney of Tewksbury. He served nine months in the 
Union army (see Chap. XXX.), and was superintendent of 
Milton poor farm, where he d. Nov. i8, [868. Ch. Francis, 
b. Oct. I, 1S37. 

KELLEY, Martin, settled in 1873 on the farm owned 
by Timothy Page at the time of the Revolution. (See 
Homesteads.) He m. 1867, Ellen Murry. Ch. John, b. 
Oct. 16, 1S6S. William, b. Sept. 26, 1S70. Edward P. b. 
Sept. 29, 1871. Thomas, b. Aug. 15, 1874. Mary, b. Feb. 
20,. 1S76, d. June 29, 1888. Nellie, b. May 15, 1877. Mag- 
gie, b. July 5, 1878, d, July 12, 188S. Annie, b. April 19, 
18S0. Martin J. b. and d. Oct. 18S1. Martin J. b. Oct. 6, 
1882. Agnes, 1). Oct. 26, 1SS3. 

KESRICK, Alexander AVellington, son of Samuel 
and Martha S. Smith, b. at Charlestown, Sept. 9, 1814, ni. 
Mar. 14, 183S, Lucy L. Holbrook of the eighth generation. 
Ch. Henrietta A. b. Feb. 7, 1841, m. George H. Russell. 
Earl Wood, b. July 23, 1844, d. Feb. 26, 1887. Anthony H. 
b. Jan. 21, 1847. Frank Pierce, b. Jan. 2\, 1S47. George 
W. b. Oct. 8, 1849. Bmmtan //. b. June 23, 1852. Mercy 
Maria, b. Feb. 18, 1856, d. Oct 22, 18S6. R'ichard Fay, 
d. young. Lee Fay, b. April 2, 1S65. 

LANE. "The Lane family is very ancient. One went 
over to England with William the Conqueror in 1066." 

Job Lane, or Laine, son of James of Hertfordshire, 
Ent;., came to .America in 1635, was one of the first settlers 
of Billerica, and his descendants formed one of the most 
numerous and influential families in that town and Bed- 
ford. 

Various genealogical notices of the family have appeared 
before the public, but disagreeing in details of family his- 
tory. 

Job Lane' was interested in the settlement of Rehoboth 
(Seconk), on the 3d of July, 1644, where he drew a house- 
lot, No. 28. His estate was then valued at ^50. 

If this Job was the one of Bedford's early interests, he 

soon returned to England; for in 1647 "he was appointed 

( by his kinsman. Thomas Howell of Marshfield, as executor 

of his will." 
' He returned .about 1650, and resided in Maiden in New 



Laxk. 



20 



Lane. 



England. If this Job was not the head of the Bedford 
family, he may have been the one by that Christian name 
who began life here later, and will be considered as the 
head of the second Job Lane family, which seems to have 
been distinct from the one that has been represented here 
during the entire history of the town. 

Job I.ane' was a master carpenter and housewriglit, and 
pursued that business e.vtensively. 

There were two others of the name of Lane early in this 
country, William and James. William came over in 1636, 
with William Reed and others, in what is known as the 
second immigration. James was brother of Job, as is 
shown by the following, under date of May ig, 1660: "I 
James Lane of Maiden Middlesex County, Turner, have 
constituted my well beloved brother Job Lane, of same 
Maldfu, my true and lawful attorney in my name and 
stead to act," &c. They were sons of James of England. 
Job Lane was made freeman in 1656, built the first meet- 
ing house in Maiden in 1658, and contracted for the build- 
ing of a bridge over Concord River, to be completed, 
"with abutments at each end suitable for the passing over 
with carts," before the close of the year 1659. 

Job)' b. 1620, m. Sarah, who d. May, 165S; m. 2d, July, 

1660, Hannah, dau. of Rev. John Rayner, pastor of the 
church at Dover. He d. Aug. 23, 1697; she d. April 30, 
1704. Ch. Sarak, m. April 23, 1673, Samuel Fitch, d. Oct. 
2. 1679. Elizabeth, b 1656, m. Robert Avery. Kehecca, 
b. 165S, bap. at Dorchester, Aug. 4, 1658 (not mentioned 
in her father's will), d. 1659. By 2d wife, ll/o//«,'^ b. Oct. 

1661, bap. in Dorchester "when about one-quarter of a 
year old, by reason of their living so remote." Anna, 
d. an infant. Anna, m. James Foster of Dorchester, d. 5 
days before her husband, Sept. 29, 1732, aged 67. Jemima, 
b. Aug. 19, 1666, m. Matthew Whipple of Ipswich. Doro-. 
thy, b. July 24, 1666, m. Nov. 24, 1693, Edward Sprague 
(his birth is the first of the family recorded in Billerica). 
Mary, b. 1674, m. William Avery of Dedham. 

Job Lanei removed to Billerica, and settled on the Gov. 
Winthrop farm, which he bought of Fitz John, son of the 
governor. The deed, dated Aug. 2, 1664, conveys twelve 
hundred and si.xty acres, being the same granted to the 
eminent governor by the Colonial Court. (See Illustra- 
tion.) Job Lanei paid for the farm £230, "current money," 
by building a house for Fitz John Winthrop at New Lon- 
don, Conn. He remained on the farm until the marriage 
of his son, John,- after which he returned to his Maiden 
estate. 

The Winthrop farm was found, by survey previous to 
the division among the heirs of Job,^ to contain fifteen 
hundred acres. It was but a small part of his estate. The 
inventory was as follows: Estate in Billerica, .j^'Soo; home- 
stead in Maiden, ;^225; tenements in Maiden, ;^9I3; per- 
sonal estate, ;^iSS ii.s. dd. — total, ^^2,126 li.f. bd. 

In addition to the above, there was a large estate in 
England from which he received annual income. The 
English estate, in part, came by the second wife of Job.l 
It was inherited by the Rayner family, from a brother, 
Boyse, who was slain in the war of the revolution in the 
Parliament party, under Lord Fairfax, in a battle near 
Leeds, 1643. (^^^ English Right.) 

Job's house in Billerica was one of the four block houses 
ordered to be built by the General Court between Concord 
and Chelmsford, in 1675, during Philip's war. 

Job Lane' represented the town in the General Court in 



167S-9, and after his return to Maiden represented that 
town in 16S5 and 1693. ~ 

Sarah (Lane) Fitch died before her father. Job Lane,i 
and her portion of the Winthrop farm (one-fourth) was 
inherited by her son, Samuel Fitch, q.v. 

Elizabeth (Lane) Avery is memorialized in King's Chapel, 
Boston, thus : " Robert II. son of Dr. William .4very of Ded- 
ham, b. about 1649, m. Elizabeth Lane, .April 13, 1676. He 
d. Oct. 1722, in ye 73d year of his age. She d. Oct. 2, 1746, 
in ye gist year of her age, leaving five children, thirty 
grandchildren, fifty-two great-grandchildren, and two of 
the fifth generation " (Rev. John Avery, first minister of 
Truro, the son of Robert, b. Dec. 26, 1685, d. ."^pril 25, 
1754, was also a practising physician.) 

Jemima (Lane) Whipple died before her father, Job 
Lane,' and her portion of the Winthrop farm (one-fourth) 
was inherited by her son, Matthew. 

John,- son of J'jb.i m. Mar. 20, 1681-2, Susanna Whip- 
ple of Ipswich. She d. Aug. 4, 1713; he d. Jan. 17, 1714- 
15. Ch. Susanna, b. Jan. 24, 1682-3, m. Nathaniel l'age.2 
Joli,^ d. young. Mary, b. May 15, 16S6, in. John Whitmore 
of Medford. Jemima, d. young. \\Jol>,^ b. June 22, 1689. 
\iJo/ui,^ b. Oct. 20, 1691. Martha, b. Oct. i, 1694, m. 
James Minot, a noted schoolmaster of Concord, d. Jan. iS, 
1735. \ijamts,^ b. Aug. 12, 1696. Joseph,^ d. young. 

John Lane'-' was colonel of the militia, and very active 
during the Indian alarms. He was appointed "captain by 
Richard, Earl of Belmont, Oct. 4, i6gg, and a major of the 
West Regiment of horse and foot militia, Jan. 22, 17 11, by 
Dudley. The original commission is now among the Lane 
papers. (See Homesteads.) His property was invento- 
ried, June 24, 1715, as follows: Real estate, ;^i, 197 12s.; 
personal, ^266 i6j. 51/. Among the charges to the estate 
were funeral expenses, ;^38 y., of which ^fio was for 
gloves for the mourners. Sons Job** and John^ were the 
.idministrators. The estate was conducted under the style 
of Job & John Lane. 

Mary (Lane) Whitmore inherited the warlike spirit of 
her father. Col. John Lane." (See experience of Mary 
Lane, and epitaph.) Her husband, John Whitmcue, aided 
in defraying the charges of forming the lown of I'edford. 
She had six children and a numerous posterity, some of 
whom settled in Bedford, N.H. Hon. William H. Whit- 
more of Boston is a descendant. 

Jol),'^ son of John,- m. Dec. 1713, Martha Ruggles of 

Roxbury, who d. Sept. 14, 1740; m. 2d, Mary . She 

d. Dec. II, 1783; he d. Aug. g, 1762. (See epitaph of Dea. 
Job.) Ch. Martha, b. June 22, 1716, m. Nathaniel Adams, 
ll/tfj^,-* b. Sept. 27, 1718. h/o/iH,-* b. Oct. 2, 1720. \i Timo- 
thy,* b. July 10, 1722. Mary, b. Feb. 24, 1725, m. Jonathan 
Hill of Billerica, d. May 24, 1772. Whipple,* d. young. 
Benjamin,* b. Aug. 2g, 1729, d. Jan. 25, 1754. Lucy, b. 
May 3, 1732, m. Elijah Stearns of Billerica. Twin daus. 
d. young. 

Job LaneS was deacon from Feb. 9, 1738, till death, Aug. 
g, 1762, and was commissioned a lieutenant of troops on 
April 16, 1724, by Gov. Dummer. He occupied the home- 
stead on the Billerica road. He gave by will his estate in 
England to his son Job,^ and its equivalent in other prop- 
erty to sons John'' and Timothy*; to grandson, John Lane.s 
"my old clock"; to granddaughter, "only child of my 
daughter, Martha Adams, the sum of ^^25 13^.4^/."; "to 
i daughters Mary Hill and Lucy Stearns my lands in Hard- 
wick." 



Lane. 



21 



Lane. 



John, " son of John,'- commissioned as captain in 1711, 
and later as major by Dudley, m. Dec. 31, 1714, Catherine 
Whiting, who d. April i, 1731 ; m. 2d, Mar. 16, 1732, Han- 
nah Abbott of .^ndover. She d. April 22, 1769; he d. 
Sept. 23, 1763. (See epitaphs of each.) Ch. Elizabeth, b. 
Oct. 14, 17 16, m. Jeremiah Fitch of Hedford. Catherine, 
b. June 27, 1717, m. Benjamin Kacon. Susuiinn, b. April 8, 
1720, m. Nathaniel Davis of Vermont. \\Joliii,* b. July i, 
1722. J/a/Mrtf,' b. July 10, 1724, d. Aug. 5, 1741. Siimiie/,* 
d. young. Ky 2d wife, Hannah, d. young. \\S(imiie/,* b. 
Oct. 21, 1737. Afatlht'i; b. Aug. 5, 1741. 

.laillOs^ (Capt.), son of John,- m. April 30, 1719. .Martha 
Minot. who d. July 3, 1762; m. 2d, Aug. 9. 1763, Cherry 
Wellington, who d. Dec. 17, 1764; m. 3d, May 22, 1766, 
Mrs. -Abigail Farmer, who d. Feb. 25, 1773; m. 4th, Jan. 
20, 1774, Mrs. Abigail .Merriam, who d. Nov. 15, 1793. ^^ 
d. April II, 1783. Ch. Martha, b. Mar. 17, 1721-2, m. 
Samuel Dutton. Rebecca, h. Oct. 29, 1723, m. July 31, 1750, 
lienjaniin Hutchinson, Jr., d. May 24, 1814. (See epitaph). 
\\Japnes,^ b. .Mar. 8, 1725-6. Marcy, d. young. David,* b. 
Mar. 17, 1733-4, d. Sept. 29, 1750. He was a college 
graduate, and died abroad. Loi'e and Susanna, d. young. 
h Samuel.* b. July 11, 1737. 

,Iol>'' ("Jr."), son of Job,^ m. Jan. 29. 1747, Susanna 
Fassett (dau. of Capt. Josiah), who d. Mar. 24. 1775; '^■ 
2d, Jan. 15, 1777, Elizabeth Stickncy. He d. June 11, 
1796. Cli. Susanna, b. Dec 21, 1747, m. Daniel Davis. 
Lydia, b. .Vug. 13, 1749, m. Matthew Fitch. Sarah, b. 
Dec. 15, 1751, m. Nov. 26, 1778, Samuel Gilson. Han- 
nah, b. Jan 31, 1754, m. John Bacon. /i'/>,^ b. June 13, 
1756. " Knsign Job Lane" d. Dec. 22, 1788. Awaltia,h. 
Feb 9, 1759, nt. Elijah Bacon; m. 2d, Benjamin Bacon. 
Molly, b. June 14, 1761, m. David Lane. Btthiah, b. Feb. 
I, 1764, m. John Webber, Jr. h Z.«/r,' b. Sept. 29, 1768. 
By 2d wife, Fauna, b. .May 24, 17S1, d. single. 

Job Lane'' was wounded at Concord, April 19, 1775. He 
was pensioned by the government, and received considera- 
tion from the town. 

John,'' son of Job," m. Ruth liowman of Le.\ington, who 
d. Aug. 13, 1759; m. 2d, Mrs. Sarah (.Vbbott) Hildreth of 
Andover. He d. Dec. 7, 17S9; she (Mrs. Sarah Parker) d. 
.Mar. 5, 1814. (See epitaph.) Ch. Xx/ohn,^ b. Dec. 7, 1746. 
Francis,'' d. young. Francis,^ b. .-Vug. 31, 1750, settled in 
Ashburnham /fulh. b. ."^prij 8, 1752, in. Dec. 9, 1772, 
John Whitney of Littleton. Benjamin,^ b. Mar. 17, 1754, 
ni. May 26, 1781, .•\nna Page; m. 2d, Isabella Hill. Lived 
at Ashburnham. hZihi,^ b. July 5, 1756. Esther, b. Mar. 
I, 175S, m. Sept. 25, 177,8, Josiah Crosby of Amherst, N.H. 
By 2d \\\ie,/osiah,i d. young. \\ Jonathan,^ b. Oct, 15, 1763. 
Sarah, b. Oct. I, 1765, m. Nov. i, 1787, Timothy Stearns. 
Had T I ch. 

Timothy,^ son of Job,^ m. Mar. 7, 1750-1, Lydia, dau. 
of Stephen Davis. He d. Dec. 3, 1793; she d. .-Vug. 31, 
1801. (See epitaphs.) Ch. Lucy. b. Nov. 7, 1751, m. Nov. 
=3. '775. Jonathan Putnam. Elizabeth, b. May 7, 1753. 
hStefhcn,^ b. Aug. 20, 1755. Anna, b. Mar. 30, 1758, m. 
May 20, 1779, Ebenezer Gould of Chelmsford. Lydia, d. 
young. Khoda, b. May 17, 1763, m. P"eb. 12, 1789, Simeon 
(lould. Paitce, b. Nov. 8, 1765. Nathan,^ b. Feb. 11, 1768, 
d. Dec. I, 1794. Lydia, b. Jan. 16, 1772, d. July 13, 1796. 

John,'* son of John,3 inherited Thaddeus Davis place 
from his father, and spent his life there, m. Oct. 28, 1747, 
Martha Flagg of Woburn. Ch. Martha, b. Aug. 13, 174S. 
Malthnu,^ b. Oct. S, 1750. Gorsham Flag;.;,^ b. July 30, 



1753. Hannah, b. May 13, 1755, m. John Bacon. (See 
epitaph.) Hepsibah, b. .\ug. 30, 1761. 

Samuel,-' son of John,^ m. Dec. 9, 1763, Elizabeth Fitch. 
He d. June 26, 1S02; she d. Sept. 29, 1796. (See Home- 
steads.) Ch. Hannah, b. Feb. 26, 1765, m. Jonathan Lane.^ 
Dorcas, b. Feb. 18, 177 1, m. Nathan White. Phebe, b. Feb. 
1-. 17731 m. David Lane. Polly, b. .\ug. 15, 1776, m. John 
Stearns of Hillerica. 

James,-' son of James,^ m. Jan. 10, 1751, .Mary Welling- 
ton. He d. Jan. 4, 1799; '^he (Mrs. Mary Moore) d. April 

12, 1806. Ch. Oliver Wellington,'' b. Oct. 27, 1751, gradu- 
ated from college in 1772, and settled in Boston,* d. Nov. 
3> ■793- James,^ b. Mar. 10, 1754. m. 1805, Molly Pollard. 
He d. 1836; she d. 1848. XiSolomon,^ b. Aug. 7, 1756. 
hDavid,^ h. Mar. 11, 1759. /saac,^ b. May 13, 1766, d. 
May 24, 1S03. 

James Lane-" divided his lands between three sons who 
lived in Bedford. James^ had the portion which included 
the present Rodman estate, where he settled. Solomon^ 
had the homestead and dwelling where five generations 
were born (Coolidge place). David^ had the part which 
has descended through sons to Job B. (See Homestead.) 

Samuel,-' son of James,^ eighth ch. of Capt. Jamess and 
Martha Minott, m. Oct. 2, 1762, Ruth Davis, who d. Oct. 
22, 1772; m. 2d, Jan. 6, 1774, Hannah French, who d. Sept. 
29, 1796; m. 3d, M.ay 21, 1799, Mrs. Frances Reed, who d. 
Sept. 19, T807. He d. Jan. 26, 1802. Ch. Jonas.^ b. May 
10, 1761, settled in Lancaster. Kcbecca, b. Jan. 17, 1763, d. 
Nov. 27, 1791. Ephraim,^ b. Mar. 22, 1767, settled in Wal- 
pole, N.H. Ruth, b. Jan. 27, 1769, ni. Nathaniel Brown. 
Ebenezer,^ b. May 14, 1 771, settled in Cambridge. By 2d 
wife, Daniel,'' d. young. Hannah, b. April 6, 1776, ni. Dec. 

13, 1801, Isaiah Green of Carlisle. Samuel.^ b. Jan 15, 
1778, m. Lucy R. Jones, dan. of Timothy. Had 4 ch. b. 
here ; removed to North lirookfield, where 5 were born. 
He d. Oct. 2, 1823. She m. 2d, Thomas Wilson of Mjison, 
N.H., d. Jan. S, 1864. Ch. David Woodward, a prominent 
man and noted teacher. Others have many descendants. 
Pata. b. Aug. 9, 17S0, m. Tilly Green of Carlisle. (See 
Elm Farm ) 

Luke,» son of Job,-" m. .Mar. 24, 1791, Hannah Crosby 
of Billerica. He d. .Aug. 27. iSoi. She m. 2d, Nathan 
Dudley of Lexington. Ch. Lukc,^ b. Sept. 9, 1791. (See 
epitaph.) \iJob.^ b. Aug. 7, 1794. \\Seth,<^ b. .Aug. 9, 1796. 

j Hannah, b. May 4, 1799. 

I Johu,^ son of John,-" m. Nov. 25, 1773, Ruhamah Reed. 

j He d. Feb. 22, 1808; she d. April 30, 1S17. Ch. Kuhamah, 
b. Jan. 10, 1775, "1- Amariah Preston, M.D., q.v. Grace, 
b. Dec. 22, 1777, d. Nov. 16, 1806. Eliab, d. young. 
\\Eliab,^ h. June 21, 1780. Eliot, b. April 31, 1782, m. 
Asa Webber. John.^h. July, 5, 1784 Abner,'^ b. April iS, 
17S6, d. Aug. 9, 1826. /«ft-,8 b. Mar. 25, 1788. AxAmasa,'^ 
b. April 30. 1790. \\Roi;erf b. 1796. 

Ziba,^ son of John,-* m. April i, 1778, Lydia Danforth. 
Ch. Hannah, b. Nov. 27, 1778. Josiah,^ d. young. Ziba,'' 
b. Jan. 31, 17S2. 

Jonathan,'^ son of John,-* m. Feb. i, 1787, Hannah, dau. 
of Samuel-" and Elizabeth (Fitch) Lane. He d. Mar. 4, 
1808; she d. Mar. 9, 1S48. \\ Jonathan,'^ b. Jan. 27, 1788. 
Hannah, b. Oct. 11. 1789, m. Elijah Putnam, d. April 22, 

•It is recorded tliat when George \\'aBhiiij;tnn visited lioston, after 
bemE chosen the first President of tlie United Slales. he was met at the 
foot of Cornhill by Master Lane and his school, each student carr>-ing a 
large goose quill. 



Lane. 



22 



Lane. 



1S74. Josiah Abbott,^ b. Aug. 17, 1791, m. I'hebe .Smith 
of New York, d. Jan. 15, i860. Artnila, b. May 26, 1793, 
m. May 6, 1S24, George Fisk of Amherst, N.Il., d. Jan. 
24, 1885. Kollin, d. young. Sarah, b. May i, 1797, m. 
Ebenezer Hayward of Acton. Sully, b. 1801, m. Franklin 
Stearns. Elizabeth and Myra, d. yoimg. li Georg^fi b. 
May 8, 1802. Charles,^ b. Aug. 4, 1804, m. 1827, Sarah B. 
Wheeler; m. 2d, 1845, I'-lizabeth Carleton of Dorchester. 
He d. Oct. 15, 1S72. John Samuel,'' h. Jan. 15, iSoS, m. 
1834, Sally Ann Veninlya. d. July 21, 1850. 

Stephen,'" son of Timothy,'' m. May i, 1S06, Mrs. .Mice 
Abbott. He d. May 7, 1827; she d. June 25, 1855. Ch. 
LyJia I/airiet, b. Mar. 20, 180S, m. John W. Hayward, 
d. Dec. 25. 1884. (See Sunny Side, in Homesteads.) 

Solomon,* son of James,'' at Concord fight and in the 
Continental army, m. May 29, 17S1, Sarah, dau. of Rev. 
Josiah Stearns and Sarah Abbott. He d. Feb. i, 1837 ; 
she d. Aug. 13, 1S25. Ch. Anna, b. Aug. 19, 17S2, m. 
Nov 28, 1805, Samuel Dutton ; m. 2d, Samuel Parkhurst. 
Josiah,^ d. young. Josiah Stearns,^ b. Nov. 11, 1787, m. 
Amelia Gragg of Groton. Sally, b. April 30, 17S9, d. Nov. 
17, 1854. Enoch,^ d. young, h Oliver Wellington,^' b. June 
16, 1794. Abigail French and Daniel,'' d. young. 

David,'' son of James,-! m. Oct. 11, 1781, Molly (dau. of 
Job Lane-! and Susanna Fassett), who d. Dec. 12, 1S20; 
m. 2d,- April 30, 1820, Phoebe (dau. of Samuel Lane* and 
Elizabeth Fitch. He d. Sept. 10, 1842; she d. July 8, 
1838. Ch. Molly, b. April 23, 1782, m. Thaddeus Wilson. 
Susanna, h. Oct. 14, 1785, m. Samuel Hastings of Wal- 
tham. Job,^ b. April 3, 1789, d. Nov. 15, 1S14. Amittai 
Bacon, b. July 26, 1793, ''• ^ept. 13, 1S42. \lDavitl,^ b. 
Sept. 7, 1796. James^ b. July 15, 1799, d. Dec. 11, 1859. 
Sylvana, b. Sept. 17, 1801, m. Benjamin Bacon. 

Job,^ son of Luke,° m. Aug. 16, 1815. Mary Hadley. He 
d. 1.S30; she d. 1S66. Ch. Mary Elisabeth, b. Mar. 5, 1816, 
m. Jephtha Parkhurst, d. 1852. . Olive M. b. April 9, 1S17, 
d. i88[. Hannah A. b. 1S18, m. Charles C. Corey. A71- 
clrc'.v W:- b. 1S20, d. 1842. William? 

Setll," Ch. Etnetine, b. Jan. 27, 1829. Reuben Bacon, b. 
Jan. iS. 1S31. .-i/OTKiJ, b. July 5, 1838. 

Ellal),'' son of John,' ni. Mar. 21, 1S02, Anna Welling- 
ton, who d. May 30, 1844; m. 2d, Mrs. Sally Reed. He d. 
Jan. 9, 1S53. Ch. Eiliza Ann, b. May 17, 1804, m. William 
Everett. \i Abner Bridge^ h. May 24, i?,o6. Susan Grace, 
b. Jan. 22, 180S, m. Nathaniel C. Cutler. Catherine W b. 
Sept. 2, 1S09, m. Silas Wilkins. Galen, b. April 24, 181 1. 
Mary Piiscilla, b. Oct. 12, 1812, m. Amos B. Culler. 

Amasa,*' son ofjohn,-' m. J«ily 4, 1S22, Beulah Eurnham. 
He d. Aug. II, 1865. She d. Aug. 23, 1S91. Ch. Lois Eliz- 
abeth^ b. Oct. 8, 1823. m. Jan. 9, 1843, t!yrus F. Crosby. 
Sarah Ann, b. May 29, 1829, m. 1849, George .A. Sampson. 
Reuben A? b. Sept. 2, 1831, m. 1853, Mary L. Skelton. 
George E.' and Charles //.." twins, b. Aug. 6, 1834 ; Charles 
d. Dec. io, 1S65. Eranidin S.' and Lemuel BJ twins, b. Jan. 
30, 183S; Franklin S. m. 186S, S. Maria Hsdgkins; Lem- 
uel, d. May 22, 1S66. Caroline A. b. Aug. 30, 1847, m. 1866 
Charles J. Davis. 

Of Amasa Lane's^ descendants in 1S90 there were si.\ 
children, thirteen grandchildren, and nineteen of the next 
generation. 

Roger," son of John,' m. Zelima Bacon. He d. Dec. 21, 
1853; she d. Feb. 29, 1856. Ch. John A'oger,' b. ]u\y 10, 
1824. Mary A/aria, b. July 7, 1S26, m. Hiram Clark 
h George,' b. Aug. 7, 1827. El/,' d. young. Caroline, h. 



May 5. 1831, m. Charles Fox, d. June 6, 1858. Eli,'' h. 
Mar. 3, 1833, d. May, 1857. Emeline, d. young. Emetine, 
b. Sept. 14, 1835, m. Asa Hovfland. Susan, b. Nov. 20, 
1S36, m. Bradley M. Clark; m. 2d, Joseph Litchfield. 
Eliot,' h. Dec. 29, 1837, m. Cyrus Munroe, d. June 12, 1S59. 
Amos,'' d. young. Sofhronia, b. Sept. 21, 1840, m. Frank 
Gardner, d. Mar. 9, 1888. Laz'inia, b. July 9, 1842, m. ist 
John Kyle, 2d Nelson George, 3d Harry Rattenbury. 

Jonathan,^ son of Jonathan,' m. July 27, 1S15, Ruha- 
mah Page. (See Ffomesteads and epitaphs.) He d. Nov. 
12, 1S60; she d. June 19, 1882. Ch. Ruhamah ^ltiA Jonathan 
Abbott,' d. young (see epitaph). Samuel Wright,'' b. Aug. 
2, 1820, d. Mar. 25, 1S56 (see epitaph), hjona/han Abbott,' 
b. May 15, 1822. Ruhamah Augusta, b. 1824, m. Rev. 
Elihu Loomis, d. Feb. 24, 1S67. Henry Edward.'' and 
Sarah Ann, d. in infancy- 

George," son of Jonathan,' m. 1826, Lucy Mariah Dunn; 
m. 2d, 1831, Sarah H. Berry of Maine. ?Ie d. Feb. n, 
1S82. Ch. Frances Maria, b. Aug. 26, 1S27, d. June 3, 1885. 
Lucy Miranda, d. young. By 2d wife, Charles DeWitt,' 
b. Feb. 2, 1833, ni. June 20, 1865, Josephine Belle Baker. 
Elizabeth Nickerson, b. Nov. 2, 1835, m. Out. 30, i860, 
Charles A. Church. Elleti Watson, b. Feb. 25, 1839. 
Richard Byron^' b. Feb. 10, 1S43, d. Sept. 30, 1S81. Frank 
Ernest, d. young 

Oliier TVelliugton," son of Solomon,' m. July 23, 
1818, Catherine Walton, who d. July, 1841 ; m. 2d, Feb. 26, 
1843, ^'''S- Harriet Blinn. He d. Aug. 1877; she d. June 
6, i86g. Ch. Sarah E. b. Nov. 27, 1818, m. Henry Good- 
win. Mary W. b. Mar. 31, 1820, m. Sept. 26, 1841, 
George W. Briggs, d. April 4, 1S66. hWilltam Aj b. Mar. 
12, 1822. Catherine A. b. Dec. 4, 1823, ni. Joseph H. 
Goodwin. Abigail R. b. June 3, 1826, m. Samuel Wilson, 
d. June 29, 1854. Ii 0//i'«-y.' b. Jan. 29, 1828. Laura Ann, 
A. young. Laura Am:, b. May i, 1S34, ni. Samuel Wilson, 
d. June 15, 1863. h Samuel I,'' b. Feb. 24, 1S3S. Henry 
Francis,' d. young. 

David," son of David,' m. Jan. 26, 1826, Betsey B. 
Simonds. He d. Jan. 19, 1853; she d. Dec. 15, l86S. Ch. 
Mary Ann, b. .^ug. 2, 1826, m. William Kelsea, d. July 29, 
1875. \iJob Blanchard? b. Oct. 18, 1828. Maria S. and 
Caroline E., twins, b. Oct. 10, 1833; Maria S. m. May, 
1854, George Isaacs, d. Mar. 31, 1872; Caroline E. m. Nov. 
29, 1S53, Fairfield R. Davis. 

Abner Bridge,' son of Eliab," m. Lydia Bailey. He d. 
July 2^, 1884; she d. Oct. 1S90. Ch. h George,^ b. Oct. 26, 
i.S4g, m. .Sarah M. Butters, ll Chandlerfi Henry,^ d. Dec. 
5, 1S47. 

William A." son of Oliver W." m. Mary Wright, who 
d. 1S52; m. 2d, Julia M. Houghton, who d. 1S72; he m. 
3d, Sarah M. Lane, d. 1887. Ch. Mary Ella, b. Feb. 25, 
1849, m. Charles A. Corey. William W.^ d. an infant. 
Rosa Bella, b. July 4, 185S, m. W'allaoe Ellithorpe. 

Oliver J.^ son of Oliver W." m. April 29, 1853, Mary 
A. Billings. Ch. '[\John W.^ b. May 2, 1854. Alice W. b. 
Feb. 16, 1857, m. Aug. 29, 1SS3, James Stoddard, had Alice 
Lane, d. May 29, 1884. Af. Athaiia, b. Dec. 18, 1859. ll Elmer 
Afi b. Nov. 17, 1S63. Edith L. b. Jan. 4, 1866^ 

Oliver J. Lane" is a carpenter and builder, often in to%vn 
office, and has held the ofEce of selectman twenty-five 
years, — ihe longest service of any one in the history of the 
town. He has served as moderator of more town meetings 
than any other citizen. 

Jonathan Abbott," son of Jonathan," m. Nov. 13, 1S51, 



Lane. 



23 



Maxwell. 



Sarah Delia, dau. of Kev. Ilenjamin F. Clarke. Q\\. Joint 
Chapin? b. Nov. S, 1S52, m. Sept. 1883, Harriet Brewer 
Winslow. Augusta B. b. June z, 1S54, d. July 31, 1856. 
Frederic //.' b. May 25, 1S58. Alfred Chunhf b. Jan. 29, 
1863. Benjamin Clarltef b. Oct. 2, 1866. Lucius Page? b. 
Jan. 7, 1872. 

Jonathan Abbott Lane removed from Bedford to Boston 
when very young. He has been a successful merchant 
for m.iny years, has been honored by elections to both 
branches of the state Legislature, and is a prominent man 
in business, philanthropic, and religious circles. 

Samuel L.' son of Oliver \V.,«a carpenter (see military 
history), ni. .May 23, i86t, Frances Pinkham. She d. Jan. 
II, 1877. Ch. Arthur,^ b. July 21, 1S65, d. July 7, 1879. 
Ernest /'.' b. Aug. 31. 1873. 

Job H." son of Da»id,^ m June 17, 1862, Caroline P. 
Russell. He d. May 14, 1890. Ch. ll'a/ter /).^ b. Oct. iS, 
1866. 

Georg'e,' son of Roger," m. July 4, 1858, Laura A. Smith. 
He d. Oct. iS, 1S59; she d. April 2, 1S89. Ch. hlVi//is C* 
b. May 14, 1S59. 

John W.* son of Oliver ].' m. Oct. 17, iSSo, Mary M. 
C. -Marble. Ch. IViHiam Josiah? b. May i.i, 1882. John 
Franklin? b. July 12, 18S4, d. Mar. 17, 1890. Onslow 
Stearns,^ b. ?'eb. 4, 1S87. Herbert Billings? b. Dec. 20, 
18S8. Samuel Marble, 1). .Aug. iS, iSgi. 

Elmer A.* son of Oliver J." m. Oct. 23, 18S8, Nettie L. 
.■\dams. Ch. Frank Adams? b. Se))t. 16, 18S9. 

Willis G.' son of George,' m. June 23, iSSi, .Mice 
Copeland. Ch. Maynor Wilfred? \>. June 11, 1S83 Percy 
I/eroiland? h. Mar. 5, 1887. 

SECOND JOB LANE FAMILY. 

The second family of Lane, with Job at the head, appears 
in the records of Hillerica about 1700. The connection 
with the first Lane family is uncertain; but it is possible 
that he was a son of James, who was brother of Job of the 
Winthrop purchase. He is recorded in ihe early records 
of Bedford as Job Lane, Sr. (See Oak Grove Farm.) 

Job)' m. ^^'^ry, dau. of Patrick and .Sarah Fassett of 
Hillerica. (See epitaphs.) Ch. Mary, b. Nov. iS, 1706. 
Joseph? b. Dec. 11, 170S. m. Thankful Amsden, d. at Sut- 
ton, 1736; left son, Joseph, b. 1736. Susanna, b. .Mar. 2, 
1710-11. XiJoU^ and Elizabeth, twins, b. Jan. 29, 1713-14. 
Samuel?h. April 7, 1716, d. .Nov. 25, 1736. (See epitaph.) 
Silence, b. April 2, 1719. Elizabeth, b. Mar. 17, 1722-3. 

Job,'- m. Sarah . Ch. Sarah, b. Jan. 28, 1739-40. 

Job? b. Feb. 14, 1741-2. Jonathan? b. Feb. 3, 1743-4, 
bap. Feb. 5. Samuel? h. May 6, 1746. Mary b. Mar. 16, 
1747-S. 

Job Lane' was a college graduate (1764). The follow- 
ing is a translation from a Latin epitaph on a headstone 
erected over his grave at I lartford. Conn. : " Stop Traveller. 
Here, hard by, lyeth D. Job Lane, A.M., Tutor in Yale 
College, a man distinguished for his talents, sobriety, lit- 
erary attainments, and piety. This perishable monument 
briefly witnesses to thee — That he was born in Bedford, 
A.D. 1741 ; That in Youth he was very fond of study; 
'I'hat in academic puisuits he surpassed others; That for 
three Years he earnestly preached the Gospel ; That for 
two years he faithfully performed the duties of Tutor; 
That he was very dear to his parents; loved by his friends 
and all favorers of piety, and that deeply mourned by all 
he departed this life Sept. 16, 1768." 



This family is found to be connected with the Lanes of 
the state of Maine. 

LAM'RENCE, Sylvanns, of Waltham, m. H. Melvina 
S. Reed, d. July 30, iS5S. Ch. h Charles F. b. April, 1841. 
Gear e Otis, b. Jan. 1S43. Frank L. d. young. 

Charles F. m. Esther Walker. He was in Battery C 
in the Union Army, in twenty-seven engagements, and 
escaped without injury. He d. Nov. 9, 1SS4. Ch. Mel- 
vina A', b. Mav 28, 1S71, m. Edward Hunnewell. Annie 
IVinshif, b. 1S74, d. 1875. 

LAWS, Hiram, b. in Westminster, June 27, 1844, 
m. Oct. 15, 1S71, Mary Klizabeth Dutton, b. in Chelms- 
ford, Oct. 15, 1849. ^h. Eugene Hiram, b. Sept. 20, 1873. 
Frederick Adams, b. April 4, 1876. Kenntth Rogers, b. 
May 3, 1S83. Julia Ellen, b. Jan. 8, 1886. 

LITCHFIELD, Jo.seph, b. in Boston, June 14, 1815, 
m. Sept. iS, 1S45, Theresa Webber, who d. Nov. 15, 1853; 
m. 2d, May 9, 1884, Mrs. Susan L. Clark. Ch. Joseph War- 
ren, b. Sept. II, 1847, !"• Abbie Mitchell of South Paris, 
Me. ; have Harry Warren and Edith Marion. Marion T. 
b. July 4, 1846, m. Henry M. .Ames of Oswego, N.Y., d. at 
Pasenda, Cal.; have Nellie Theresa and Louisa. 

LOOMIS, Elihll G. b. Oct. 22, 1852, m. April 11, 1SS2, 
^^arian Hillhouse Fitch of Norwich, Conn. Ch. Mary Fitch, 
b. July 29, 1883. Ralph Lane, b. .April 13, 1SS7. Huherl 
Hillhouse. b. Mar. 16, 1SS9. (See professional men.) ■ 

LYONS, William, came from Sudbury, settled on a 
portion of the Page estate, and built the present dwelling 
in 18S5, m. Margaret Flannigan. Ch. John Bernard, b. 
.May 30, 1853, m. Louisa Sexton of Boston. Mary Jane, 
b. Sept, 2, 1S54, m. John F. Dowd of Concord. William 
Joseph, b. .April 6, 1856. Margaret Ann, b. Nov. 17, 1857, 
in. Daniel Gorman of Lexington. Sarah Frances, b. May 
30, 1859, m. William J. Neville of Lexington. Elizabeth 
Agnes, b. Nov. 12, i860, ni. William H. Bowler of Wal- 
tham. Henry Dennis, b. April 8, 1S62. George Augustine, 
b. h'eb. 14, 1S64. Edward Joseph, b. Sept. 14, 1S65, m. 
Sarah J. Lawler of Westvale. Francis, b. June 14, 1S67, 
d. April 10, 1877. Charles Augustus, b. Sept. 13, 1S68. 
Ell-'n, b. July 19, 1S70, d. Sept. 25, 187 1. Emma Louise, 
b. Sept. 26, 1875, <'• April 6, 1877. 

MANSFIELD, Joel, m. Maria Bacon. He d. May 30, 
1S70; she d. Sept. 19. 18S2. Ch. Elbiidge B. b. Nov. 1S47, 
d. Dec. 4, 1S67. Charlotte M. d. young. Jimily F. d. April 
19, 187S. 

MA-XWELL, a family prominent in the early history of 
the town, but now extinct. Hngrh, b. near Belfast, Ire., 
left his country because of religious persecution, and set- 
tled in Bedford in 1732. (See Homesteads.) He d. 1759. 
(See epitaph ) His wife d. 1769. Their son, Hugh, b. in 
Ireland, m. Bridget Munroe of Lexington, 1759; had 5 ch. 
Hugh and Bridget joined Bedford church "in full com- 
munion" in 1761, and dau. Hannah was bap. at same time. 
He became a famous warrior and military leader. At the 
time of his death (1799), he held commission of lieutenant- 
colonel. (See military chapters.) The following is from 
his journal: "My parents early taught me the principles 
of liberty and religion which have supported me through 
many difficulties and hardships." 

Thompson,'- son of Hugh,' b. at liedford, 1742, in. 1763, 
Sybel Wym.in of Lexington. He was famous in military 
life. (See military chapters.) He d. near Detroit, Mich., 
when past 90 years of age, having been pensioned with the 
rank of major. There are remarkable instances of Ion- 



Maxwell. 



24 



Mebkiam. 



gevity in the family, — William, d. at 95 ; Margaret, at 99 ; 
Hugh, at 67; Sarah, at 90; Benjamin, at 92; James, at 83; 
and Thompson, at 93. 

MeGOVERX, Terraiice. from Ireland, settled on a 
portion of the Samuel Hartwell farm. He m. Jan. 6, 1S60, 
Mary Callehan, d. July 13, 1887. Ch. Af.in; b. Dec. 1861. 
/('/;« and Lizzie, twins, b. July, 1863. /antes, b. July, 1865. 
Annie, b. April, 1S67. frank, b. Nov. 186S. 

John, from Ireland in 1853, settled on Samuel Hartwell 
farm in 1862. He m. Jan. 6, i85i, Winnie Whalin, who d. 
April 7, 1871; m. 2d, June 10, 1S83, Ann McGirire. Ch. 
Mary T. b. Feb. 6, 1S62, m. Thomas McDonough. IVil- 
Ham, b. July I, 1S63. /o/in, b. Aug. 20, 1S65. James, b. 
Feb. 22, 1S67. All/lie, b. Dec. 3, 1S69. Frank, b. Afar. 
26, 1871. 

McGUJRE, Peter, settled in Bedford on Amasa Lane 
farm, m. Au». 1859, Sarah Cosgrove. Ch. Emily M. b. 
June, i860. Mary A. b. .May, 1S66, d. Nov. 1885. 

MEAD, a prominent family in the early years of the 
town. Savage says GabrieU was a freeman in 163S, and d. 
i656, aged 79. His son, Israel,- b. 1639, m. Mary Hall, d. 
1714. Their son, Stephen,^ b. 1679, ™- Ruth Taylor in 
1700, and had Joseph,-* b. 1712. He m. Elizabeth, dau. of 
Samuel and Eunice Fitch. They had Stephen,^ b. 1736, 
Joseph,^ b. 1740, and others. Stephen'' m. 1765, Desire 
Batchelder, widow of Joseph Brown, q.v. Their son, Asa, 
b. 1774, m. Nabby Fames of Woburn. They had 8 ch., of 
whom Asa^ is buried on the abandoned "Meads' Place,* 
q.v. 

MERRIAM. The Merriams were among the very early 
settlers of Concord, hence of Bedford. Robert, George, 
and Joseph — three brothers from England — appear ;is 
the ancestors of the family. 

Joseph^ is the head of the Bedford family. He was 
the last survivor of the trio, and d. Jan. i, 1641. He in. 

Sarah . Ch. Joseph^- b. about 1630, m. Sarah Stone. 

\iJo!iiti- b. July 9, 1641. William? Sarah, and Elizabeth 
are others. 

Joseph Merriam'si will, dated Dec. 29. 1640, mentions 
wife Sarah, brothers Thomas Flint, Simon Willard, and 
Robert Merriam, and son William. His widow m. 3d, 
Lieut. Joseph Wheeler, who purchased the estate of the 
heirs of Joseph Merriam.' 

The Bedford line is traced through John,- who was the 
second son of Joseph.' 

Johll,- son of Joseph,' m. 1663, Mary Cooper. He d. 
Feb. 2, 1703-4; she d. Mar. 5, 1731, aged 85. Ch. John? 
b. Sept. 3, 1666, m. Sarah Wheeler. Joseph? h. Aug. 15, 
1667, m. Dorothy Brooks. Anna, b. Sept. 7, 1669, m. 
Daniel Brooks. \iXathaniel? b. Dec. 16, 1672. \ySamuelf 
b. July 25, 16S1. Ebenezer? b. , m. Elizabeth Brooks. 

One branch of the Bedford line descends through Na- 
thaniel,^ the fourth child of John.^ He m. Nov. iS, 1707, 
Mary Taylor. He d. Dec. ii, 1738; she d. May 19, 1764. 
Ch. Mary, b. Dec. 22, 1702, m. Francis Wheeler, hjohii,* 
b. May 16, 1704. 

Nathaniel Merriam^ was active in the incorporation of 
the town and in organizing the church. He was chosen 
deacon Aug. 4, 1730, and remained in the position till his 
death, Dec. 11, 173S. A silver cup in the communion 
service of the church is inscribed to the memory of Dea. 
Nathaniel Merriam and Mrs. Eunice Taylor. (See epi- 
taph.) Nathaniel Merriam,^ by will, dated Oct. 18, 173S, 
proved Jan , 1739, provided for wife Mary, and gave to 



son John the residue, after paying legacies; and after the 
decease of his mother to have the entire estate. 

John,'' son of Nathaniel,^ m. Mar. 23, 1731, Abigail- 
Howard, d. Sept. 20, 1767. (See epitaph of Lieut. John.) 
She m. 2d, James Lane, and d. Nov. 15, 1793, (^^^ epitaph 
of 4th wife of James Lane.) Ch. Rebekah, b. Sept. 28, 1731, 
m. Joseph Stone of Framingham. Mary, b. July 25, 1733, 
m. Ephraim Crosby of Billerica. \\John,^ b. Feb. 13, 
1734-5. Anna, b. July 13, 1737, m. Thomas Page of Bed- 
ford. (See Anna P.age's will.) ..'\''«Mt;«;>/,5 b. Dec. 15, 1739, 
d. in his majesty's service at Lake George, Sept. 1758. 
Lydia, b. .April 6, 1742, m. Rev. Nathaniel Sherman. Three 
d. young. \\VVilliam,^ b. Aug. 25, 1750. 

Abstract of John Merriani's-i will, made Aug. 11, 1767; 
To wife, Abigail, money and household goods and the im- 
I provement of certain parts of house, and my negro servant 
; named Abraham to be at her own disposal agreeable to 
the term of his service. (See slavery.) To my sons, John 
and William, the residue of my estate after paying lega- 
cies. 

Johu,'^ son of John,' m. Dec. 4, 1760, Hannah Brooks 
of Lincoln. He d. Dec. 26, 1792; she d. June S, 1S29, 
! aged 92. (.She gave a silver cup to the church in 181S.) 
Ch. Reheeea, d. young. Hannah, b. April 14, 1764, m. John 
Reed. Rebecca, b. Mar. 25, 1766, d. Mar. 2, 1790. Anni 
and Mary, d. young. \John,^ b. Aug. 28, 1774. 

Willianr' (Lieut.), son of John,^ m. Esther Bellamy (see 
epitaph) ; m. 2d, Mrs. Rebecca Fisk. Ch. Esther, b. Nov. 
I, 1771, m. John Page. Williatn Bellamy,'' d. young. 
William Bellamy,'' b. Feb. 2, 1779, "'■ Rebecca Whiting 
of Shirley. Josephiisfi d. young. Josephns? b. Mar. 10, 
17S5, m. Betsey Rand of Stow, d. at Westport, N.Y. By 
2d wife, Rebecca, b. Nov. 23, 17S6. Anna P. b. May 2, 
1790, m. Caldwell Hindman of Boston. (See epitaph.) 
Had Anna, m. Kend.all, live in Woburn. Louisa II. b. 
Oct. 2, 1792, d. young. 

Lieut. William Merriam^ fitted for college, and entered 
Brown University, took part course, settled on the farm in 
Bedford; was town clerk, selectman, and deacon in church. 
His mind became diseased, and he killed David Bacon, 
who had been placed as keeper over him. He was dis- 
missed from the arms of the law, and cared for by his son 
in New York, where he died. 

John^ (Esq.), son of John,-' m. Dec. 3, 1799, Mary, dau. 
of Nathan and Mary (Page) Reed of Lexington. He d. 
Sept. 19, 1853; she d. Aug. 14, 1855. Ch. \\Eldricigc'' b. 
Feb. 8, 1S02. Yijohii Augustus,' b. Dec 20, 1803. Mary 
Adeline, d. young. Hiram R.~ b. Aug. 5, iSoS, d. Mar. 29, 
1848. Maty A. b. Jan. 28, 1812, m. Mar. 7, 1S33, Joseph 
B. Hodgman, d. Feb. 12, 1843; left Charles Otis, who ni. 
E. Fannie Clement, and d. Mar. 3, 1SS9. Susan F. b. Oct. 
20, 1818, m. Dr. Abel B. Adams. 

John Merriam^ was a leading man in the town, and 
prominent in promoting its varied interests. He was a 
leader in laying out Shawshine Cemetery, and gave the 
sum of $100 to aid the enterprise. 

Eldridjfe," son of John.e m. April 15, 1823, Eliot Web- 
ber, who d. July 24, 1S55; m. 2d, Mar. 23, 1856, Mrs. Sarah 
Brown. He d. Sept. 25, 186S. Q.\i. John Eldridge,i^h. OcX. 
13, 1S24, d. 1S89. Lucretia Eliot, b. Nov. g, 1827, m. Hiram 
Farmer. Eveline, d. an infant. Lucy Eveliue, b. Jan. 11, 
1S35, m. George W. Cutler, d. Mar. 26, 1S57. Asa Minot, 
b. July, 1838, m. Charlotte Gorham. Nathan Albert, b. 
Mar. 1S40, m. Lucy P. Lincoln; 2 ch. died; she d. April, 



Mebriam. 



25 



MUDGB. 



1891. Mary Adeline, b. April 9, 1844, d. Jan. 15, 1863. By 
2d wife, Charles, b. 1858, d. 1877. 

John Aiijuriistlis,' son of John,'' m. April 14, 1830, Nancy 
Bacon. He d. Mar. 19, 1882 ; she d. July 20, 1878. Ch. 
Maria Antoinette, b. Dec. 20, 1830, m. Daniel L. Shorey- 
Nancy J. d. young. \\William A> b. May 20, 1834. Mary 
Jane, b. Nov. 10, 1835, m. Amos Warren Proctor. Ed- 
war J Jerome? d. young. George H.^ b. Jan. 22, 1840, d- 
Feb. 8. 1S86. Johiif' d. an infant. Nancy, b. Dec. i, 
1847. 

Maria Antoinette Shorey attended the district school, 
also a private school taught by Rev. tieorge W. Wood- 
ward, the pastor of the Unitarian church in this town, and 
in the latter was inspired to press forward to higher attain- 
ments than were generally sought by her sex. The teach- 
er, being associated with such educators as Samuel J. May 
and Horace Mann, was ahead of the times, but found in 
this young lady one who was ready to follow him. She 
studied six months at Lawrence Academy, Groton, and at 
the age of sixteen years began the profession of a public 
school teacher, which she followed with success until her 
marriage, in 1S56, with D. L. .Shorey, attorney at law, when 
she went to reside at Davenport, la. Two children, Paul 
and Martha Hall, were born to them during their resi- 
dence of ten years in that town, after which they located 
in Chicago, where she has gained fame as a writer for 
magazines .ind various publications. She has studied in 
Europe, and perfected herself in the German tongue. Her 
son, Paul, a graduate of Harvard College (187S), studied 
in Germany, received the degree of Ph.D. at Munich, and 
is now (1891) professor at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsyl- 
vania, and a writer and lecturer upon the Greek and 
Latin classics. 

William A.' son of John A." m. 1S59, Mary Deckro. 
Ch. Annie, b. Aug. i860. Walter, Arthur, and Elizaheth. 

SECOND BRA.NCH OF liEDFORD LINE. 

Samuel,^ son of John,^ m. Sarah Wheeler. He d. Mar. 
22, 1761 ; she d. Dec. i, 1743. Ch. Sarah, b. .April I, 1713, 
m. David Wheeler. Benjamin,* b. -Aug. 5, 1717. llA^- 
thaniel,* b. >fay 7, 1720. Amos,* b. July 13, 1723, m. Han- 
nah Danforth (?). 

The will of Samuel Merriam,^ dated Nov. 28, 1758, gives 
to son Nathaniel land and buildings in Bedford, after pay- 
ing debts, legacies, etc. 

Xatlinniel,'' son of Samuel,^ m. Olive Wheeler. He d. 
May 9, 1S02 ; she d. Nov. 25, r8o6. Ch. Samuel,^ b. Nov. 
5, 1749. Sarah, b. Oct. 10, 1753, m. Zebulon Converse of 
Rindge. N. H. Olrie, b. Mar. i, 1763. 

Sailllip],'' son of Nathaniel,'' m. Feb. 21, 17S5, Alice, 
dau. of Simon Newton and Amittai Fassett, and widow of 
Thomas Hadley. He d. Nov. 25, 1.S22; she d. 1836 (.'). 
Ch. Sally, b. April 17, 17S5, m. John Grover of Lexington. 
hy<'»<;j,5 b. Aug. 22, 1787. Mary, b. April 4, 1791, m. 
George Pierce, had 7 ch., several of whom settled in Bed- 
ford; Mary m. Joshua Jackson of Bedford. Thomas, b. 

Jan. 29, 1793. Lucy, . Nathaniel,^ b. June 23, 1795. 

Hannah, b. July 23, 1799, m. Lock of West Cam- 
bridge. 

The record of the marriage of Samuel Merriam and 
Alice Hadley has the following appended note : " Said 
Alice Hadley married in a borrowed suit of cloathes." 
This probably arose from an idea that if a man married a 
wife, and had no property with her, he could not be held 



responsible for her debts. Hence he took her without 
even the clothing she had on. — Hudson. 

JouaSjS son of Samuel,' m. Nancy Pierce. He d. 1822; 
she d. 1817. Ch. Isaac^' b. June 23, 1809 (deaf mute). 
Adeline, b. July 24, 1812, m. Sheubel Batchelder; m. 2d, 
Thomas Work. Mary Ann, b. Mar. 17, 1S17, m. Charles E. 
Carruth of Paxton. 

MERRITT, Edward, m. Mar. 27, 1S2S, Betsey C. Tar- 
bell, d. May 20, 1S82. Ch. Gear e, b. Mar. 21, 1S30, d. 
Dec. 21. 1847. Caroline, b. June 4, 1832. Ellen, b. July 8, 
1836, d. Oct. 16, 1839. Emily, b. July 26, 1838, m. N. S. 
Daniels, d. June 4, 1882. \\ Edward, b. July 2, 1841, m. 
Mary Winchester; he was in Union army; d. July 24, 1889. 
Helen, b. Mar. 26, 1S45, m. W. P. Putnam of Wilton, N.H. 

MOXROE, Jonas, of Scotch descent, son of Jonas and 
Sarah Henris of Carlisle, b. Mar. 17, 1795, came to Bedford 
about 1823, and entered the employ of Elijah Stearns, Esq., 
whose successor he became as a merchant. He m. Nov. 
24, 1831, Abigail F., dau. of Rev. Samuel Stearns, who d. 
Jan. 1833; m. 2d, May i, 1834, Mary A., dau. of Capt. 
Abner Stearns. He d. May 1 1, 1879. Ch. Ellen Maria, b. 
Aug. 30, 1832, m. John Clifford, d. Jan. 20, 1887. By 2d 
wife, h George Henry, b. Nov. 15, 1835. \\ Jonas Edward, 
b. May 4, 1837. Caroline Erench and Catherine Frances, 
twins, b. April 21, 1S39; Caroline ni. Charles E. Gleason ; 
Catherine d. in infancy. 

George Henry, son of Jonas, m. Oct. n, 1871, Caro- 
line M. Brower. Ch. George H. b. June 29. 1S74. Mary 
Ann, b. Feb. 22, 187S. 

Jouas E. son of Jonas, was in Union Army ; m. Nov. 
2, 1S65, Ellen M. Butterfield. Ch. Clara Josefhine, b. April 
27, 1S69. 

A))el S. b. Oct. 1S07, m. .April 26, 1838, Sarah Wright, 
who d. Mar. 3, 1844; m. 2d, Dec. 1844, Caroline Bacon. 
She d. Jan. 31, i860; he d. June 21, 1S61. Ch. Soph ronia, 

b. , d. April 27, 1S44. George IV. Sarah E. b. Jan. 

1846, m. Knowlton. 



Juuathnu, m. Almira Page. He d. Jan. 6. 1S65; she 
d. April 13, 1S72. Ch. James, b. 1S29, d. Sept. 6, 1S63. 
Clariett, m. Wesley Carvill. 

James Monroe joined the Union Rrmy, Oct. 15. 1862, as 
a member of Company G, Forty-seventh Regiment, served 
a term of nine months, and died from disease contracted in 
the service of his countrv. 

" Though not upon llie b.-iltle-field 
He breathed his latest breath, 
For freedom and for country still 
He died a hero's death." 

MUDfiE. The immigrant ancestor, Thomas, who was 
born in England in 1624. was in Maiden, Mass., in 1657. 
The line of descent is as follows ; Thomas,^ b. 1624; John,- 
b. 1654; John,3 b. Nov. 21, 1686, d. Nov. 26, 1762; John,^ 
b. Dec. 30, 1713, d. Nov. 26, 1762; Simon,' b. .\pril 8, 1748, 
d. Aug. 27, 1799; Simon,« b. Sept. S, 1775, d. Feb. 10, 1853. 

William W." b. in Danvers, Mar. 30. 1821, m. April 
26, 184S, Harriet, dau. of Jonathan and Rebecca Perry of 
Danvers, d. Dec. 8, 1884. Ch. Rebecca F. b. Jan. 23, 1849. 
Elizabeth and Almira, twins, b. June 10, 1851, d. in infancy. 
William H.^ b. June 15. 1S53. Harriet M. b. July 27, 1S57. 

William W. Mudge' settled on a part of the Merriam 
farm in 1S56, where his family now live. He was often in 
town office, and was a member of the Evangelical church. 



Myers. 



26 



Page. 



MTERS, Mifliael, settled in Bedford on a portion of 
tlie Page estate which had been occupied by John Davis. 
He m. Feb. 1S78, Lena Tigh. Ch. Mary, b. Feb. 1879. 
Saia/i, b. Dec. 1S82. Faiinic, b. Feb. 1SS6. William, b. 
July, iSSS. 

XEVILLE, Jollll, m. April, 1S50, Maria Keane, and 
settled on the Stephen Davis farm. (See Homesteads.) 
Ch. Mary Ann, b. Mar. 1850, d. Jan. 187S. William J. b. 
Feb. 1853, m. Sarah Lyons. John Henry, b. Dec. 1855. 
George Martin, b. Nov. 1857, d. 1861. Ellen E. b. Mar. 
i860. Sarah J. b. June, 1S63. Hannah M. b. Jan. 1S66. 
James F. b. Mar. 1867. Kalherinc C. b. June, 1S71. 
P. Henry, b. June, 1S74. 

PAGE, or PAKJE, Natliailiel,! was in Roxbury in 
16S6. He is thought to have been brother of Nicholas of 
Boston, 1665, who came from Plymouth, Eng. Gov. Joseph 
Dudley appointed Nathaniel^ sheriff of Suffolk County. 
He bought land of George Grimes, and settled in Billerica 
(now Bedford) in 16SS. (See Homestead.) He m. Joanna, 
and d. "12-02-93" (Apr. 12, 1692). Ch.liA'(;//;«K«>/,'''b. about 
1679. Eliuibeth, m. John Siinpkins of Boston. Sarah, m. 
Samuel Hill, /awc'-t,- d. young. \i Christopher,'^ h. \(x)0--i. 
Nathaniel Page^ left will, dated .-Xpril 11, 1692, approved 
May 9, 1692. Some of the items from the inventory are ; 
'' Iron work belonging to the saw-mill, ;{J3 02.f. ; 3 horses, 
;^8; 24 sheep and lambs, £y ; 9 milch cows, ^20; 6 o.xen, 
;f 22 ; 40 bush, corn, £\; farm buildings and all lands in 
Billerica, ;^225; a servant man, ;^IS; a farm of 200 acres 
at Dedham, ^^30; a farm at Squabauge and Worcester, 
£10." 

Nathaniel,- son of Nathaniel,^ b. in England, and came 
to New England when about 14 years old. He m. Nov. 6, 
1701, Susannah Lane, who d. 1746; m. 2d, 1748, Mary 
Grimes. He d. 1755. (See epitaph.) Ch. \i Nathaniel,'' 
b. Sept. 4, 1702. \iJohn,^ b. Oct. 11, 1704. h Christopher? 
b. July 16, 1707. Susannah, b. April 29, 171;, m. Samuel 
Bridge of Le.xington, d. 1735. Joanna, b. 1714, m. Josiah 
Fassett. 

Christopher,- son of Nathaniel,^ m. Joanna , who 

d. Oct. 27, 17 19; m. 2d, May 23, 1720, Elizabeth, dau. of Dea. 
George Reed of Woburn. He d. in Hardwick, Mar. 10, 
1774; she d. 1786. Ch. Joanna, b. Aug. 10, 1717, m. Benja- 
min Farley. Christopher,^ b. June 11, 1721, m. Rebecca 
Haskell. William,^ b. May 2, 1723, m. Mercy Aiken. He 
d. Feb. 14, 1790; she d. Feb. 19, 1S23, aged 102 years. 
George,^ b. June 17, 1725, m. Rosilla Whitcomb, d. 1781. 
Timothy,^ b. May 24. 1727, m. Mary Foster of Rochester. 
He d. .■\ug. 26, 1791 ; she d. July 21, 1825, aged 93 years. 
His son, Timothy, was the father of Rev. L. R. Page, the 
historian of Cambridge. Jonas? b. Sept. 19, 1729. Eliza- 
beth, b. Oct. 3, 1731. Lucy, b. Feb. 22, 1733-4, m. Seth 
Lincoln of Newton. There were born in Hardwick, A'a- 
thaniel,^ b. May 12, 1736, d. Jan. 6, lSi6. John,^ b. July 
6, 1738, d. April 14, 181 1. Elizabeth, b. June 7, 1743, m. 
Solomon Green of Leicester. 

Natlianiel,^ son of Nathaniel,'^ m. Hannah Blanchard. 
She d. 1763; he d. 1779. Ch, h Thomas,^ b. May 5, 1733. 
Hannah, b. May 15, 1736, m. Jonas French. \\Williani,^ 
b. Feb. 19, 1737-8. \i David,* b. April 4, 1740. Susanna, 
b. Jan. 22, 1742, d. Jan. 26, 1772. Abigail, b. Sept. 5, 1745, 
m. Bowman Brown. 

Johu,'^ son of Nathaniel,- m. Dec. 31, 1730, Rebecca 
Wheeler, who d. July 12, 1755; m. 2d, Jan. 15, 1756, Amit- 
tai Fassett, who d. Dec. 25, 1771; m. 3d, June 3, 1773, 



Rachel, widow of Joseph Fitch. He d. Feb. 18, 1782; 
she d. Jan. 26, 1801. Ch.John,'^ b. Sept. 2, 1733, settled in 
Hardwick, founded a numerous family, and d. Oct. 31, 
17S9. James^ b. May 12, 1735, d. 1817 in Hardwick. 
\\ Ebenezer,'^ b. June 3, 1737. Susanna, d. young, h Timo- 
thy,'^ b. June II. 1741. \\ Nathaniel,* b. June 20, 1742. 
Rebecca, b. Aug. 23, 1743, m. Solomon Cutler of Rindge, 
N.H. Mary, d. young. Joanna, b. June 15, 1746, m. Sam- 
uel Reed of Woburn. Sarah, b. June 8, 1747, m. Josiah 
Beard. Elizabeth, b. Aug. 3, 174S, m. Micha Reed. Sus- 
anna, b. June 12, 1750, m. Amos Haggitt of Concord. 
Samuel,* b. Aug. i, 1751, lived in New Hampshire. Mary, 
d. an infant. 

John Pages was a man of great stature, and was in the 
battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. He aided in cap- 
turing six regulars in Lexington, April 19, 1775. 

Christopher,^ son of Nathaniel,- m. 1742, Mrs. Susan- 
nah (Whitmore) Webber of Medford, dau. of John Whit- 
more. He d. Nov. II, 1786; she d. July 20, 1792. Ch. 
Christopher,* b. Oct. 29, 1743, m. Lydia Jaquith ; m. 2d, 
Mrs. Minot. Had no issue. He was at Concord fight. 
Mary, b. Feb. zo, 1746-7, m. Dea. Nathan Reed of Lexing- 
ton. Four ch. d. young (see epitaphs). 

The deaths of children in this family, and also in the 
Whitmore family connected with it, were from the epi- 
demic, thus described: " The amazing rapidity with which 
it spread through the country resembled more a storm agi- 
tating the atmosphere than the natural progress of dis- 
ease. . . . Almost a whole city or town or neighborhood 
became affected with its influence in a few days." 

Thomas,'' son of Nathaniel,s m. Jan. i, 1756, Anna Mer- 
riam. He d. July 31, 1809; she d. July 10, iSio. 

She gave by will a silver flagon to the church that cost 
I140; also the foundation of the "Page and Hartwell 
Fund." 

William,* son of Nathaniel,'* m. Dec. S, 1763, Patte 
Hill. He d. Feb. 10, 1S12; she d. April 14, 1S09. 

He gave the first hearse to the town, and made public 
bequests. His residence was near the Concord line. 

David,'' son of Nathaniel,^ known as " King David," 
because of his lordly manner and adherence to the Conti- 
nental costume, m. Abigail, Jones. He d. Jan. 11, 1S19. 
Ch. David,^ b. Feb. 7, 1767. Hannah, b. Mar. 11, 1773. 

Ebeiiezer,*' son of John," m. Feb. 21, 1760, Dorothy 
Pollard, widow of Joseph Fassett, who d. Feb. 6, 1779; 
m. 2d, Dec. 4, 1781, Susannah Simonds of Woburn. He 
d. June 19, 17S4. Ch. Anna, b. Sept. 29, 1760, m. Benja- 
min Lane. Rebekah, b. June 9, 1763, m. Jonathan Wil- 
son ; m. 2d, William Porter. Ehenezer,^ b. Mar. 30, 1765. 
\\,John,^ b. Feb. 8, 1767. Dolly, Moses, and Lucy, d. young. 
Molly, b. July 24, 1774. \\.Joshica,^ b. Jan. 18, 1779. By 
2d wife, \\William,^ b. Mar. 19, 1783. \^Moses,^ b. Oct. 9, 
1784. Lucy (not recorded), m. Matthew Hayward of Box- 
boro. (See Hayward family.) 

Timothy,* son of John.^ m. Margaret Wellington, d. Oct. 
25, 1776. She m. 2d, Asa Fassett, d. Oct. 25, 1S04. Ch. 
Joseph W? b. May 16, 1767. Dorcas, b. April 22, 1775, m. 
James Wright. 

Timothy Page* was in the war of the Revolution from 
the opening scene until his death at the battle of White 
Plains, N.Y. (See military section.) 

Nathaniel,* son of John,^ a Minute Man of Bedford, m. 
Dec. 15, 1774, Sarah, dau. of James Brown. He d. July, 
1819; she d. Aug. 22, 1839. Ch. \i, Nathaniel,^ b. Oct. 25, 



Page. 



27 



Parker. 



1775. Sarah, b. May 22, 1777, m. Samuel Randall, h Titn- 
ot/iyf b. Jan. 29, 1779. \i/o/itfi and Bfiijumiiif twins, b. 
Mar. 3, 1781. Christof>her> and ]l Thomasfi twins, b. Dec. 10, 
1784; Benjamin settled in Bo.xboro, Mass., and d. May 4, 
1840. h Tlidddius^ and Kti/umiali, b. May i, 17.SS; Riiha- 
mah m. Jonathan Lane. (See Lane family.) 

Jullll'' (Capt.), son of Ebene2er,''a carpenter and builder, 
m. Feb. 14, 1792, Ksther (Merriam). He d. June 29, 1S48; 
she d. Dec. 21, 1852. Ch. Clariel, b. May 4, 1794. Esther 
Bflliimy, b. Feb. 12, 1796, m. Asa Reed. Almira, b. Dec. 
26, 1797, m. Jonathan Munroe. Arza^ b. Aug. 9, iSoo, m. 
Elizabeth T. Currier, d. in Billerica, Feb. iS, 1868. Bella- 
my!^ b. Dec. s, 1S02, d. Nov. 29, 1881. Louisa H. b. July 
17, 1S06. Anna Priscilln, b. April 9, 1808. 

Joshua,^ son of Ebenezer,'' m. Sally Davis, who d. Nov. 
25, 1814; m. 2d, Klsey Gault; m. 3d, Nancy Gault; m.4th> 
Betsey May; m. 5th, Mary A. Robbins. He d. Nov. 27, 
1842. Ch. Sariih E^c'/inc; d. young. Sa//y A/aria, b. Nov. 
20, 1814, m. Ezra A. Corson. Mary Ann, h. .Aug. 13, 1S16, 
m. Orville Tyler. Dolly Eveline, d. an infant. Harriet Jane, 
b. June 28, 1S23. Asenith Gault, b. Aug. 20, 1824. Nancy 

Watertnan, b. April 16, 1S26, m. I'illsbury. Lucretia, 

b. Aug. 25, 1829. 

Williaiii,° son of Ebenezer,* m. Lucy Simonds. He d. 
in Sonierville; she d. Dec. 14, 1849. Ch. /J/wcj-.i' b. May 
16, 1816. Susanna Simonds, d. young. Susanna Simonds, 
b. Aug. 27, 1823, m. .Mbion S. Willard. 

Moses,'' son of Ebenezer,'' m. Mrs. Hannah (Evans) Put- 
nam. He d. Nov 5, 1861 ; she d. Aug. 8, 1S49. Ch. Sus- 
anna, b. April 12, 1828, d. Feb. 8, 1855. 

Natlnilliol,'' son of Nathaniel,'' m. Sept. 10, 1801, Lydia 
Fitch. He A. .Aug. 30, 1858; she d. Jan. 24, 1S52. Ch. 
\iC\rus,'> b. Nov. 26, 1801. Fidelia, b, July g, 1803, m. 
Hiram Webber, d. .April 5, 1834. Isaac Fitch,^ b. Aug. 30, 
1805, d. Nov. 21, 1844. Xathaniel^' d. an infant. A'alhan- 
iel^ b. May 31, 1809, m. 1862, d. Aug. 5, iSSo. David,'' b. 
Sept. 4, iSii, d. Dec. 6, 1872. Benjamin,i> b. Jan. 15, 1814, 
d. Jan. 15, 1848. Samuel^ b. May 30, 1816, d. Jan. 31, 
1839, a member of the junior class of Dartmouth College. 

Timothy,'' son of Nathaniel,'' m. Isanna Harrington. 
He d. Dec. 26, i860; she d. .Aug. 2, 1861. Ch. \\Larkin 
Pierce^ b. Sept. 24, 1S02. It Timothy, A'." b. Dec. iS, 1809. 
hDaniel Harrington^ b. Jan. 4, 1S19. 

JollU,^ son of Nathaniel,* ni. June 5, iSio, Lucy, dau. of 
Dea. Moses Fitch. They both d. Feb. 1861. Ch. Anna 
Rcid, b. Mar. 21, iSii, m. Jabez \V. Burnham, d. Sept. 22, 
1 888. \\ Benjamin,'' b. Nov. 30, 18 12. Lucy Almira, b. 
Jan. 14, 1S15, m. Herbert Wyman of Woburn. Kachel 
Lavinia, b. Mar. 13, 1S18, d. Sept, 8, 1888. She bequeathed 
$500 ti> church in Bedford. Mary Fitch, b. Feb. 23, 1S20, 
m. Charles H. Adams. Sarah Bro7i'n, b. Feb. 2, 1822, m. 
Benjamin F. Wyer of Woburn. Martha Jane, b. Oct. 28, 
1824, m. Dea. Luther Richardson of Winchester. Susan- 
nah Stearns and John Irving, d. young. 

Thomas,^ son of Nathaniel,* m. Betsey Porter. He d. 
Aug. 22, 1S60; she d. Mar. 12, 1867. Ch. Isanna, b. .April 
12, 1S09, m. Caleb .Sumner Brown, had S ch. and d. Dec. 
1890. Harriet, b. April, 1813, ni. William Green, d. Feb. 
II, 1888. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 1817, m. Nov. 2, 1837, Nathan 
Taylor ; m. 2d, Dec. 30, 1840, Joseph Hartwell. 

Tliadlloiis,^ son of Nathaniel,* m. Dolly Richardson. 
He d. Jan. 17, 1837; she d. Aug. 15, 18S6, aged 100 years 
6 months. One ch. d. young. 

Cyrus,' son of Nathaniel,^ m. Sept. 15, 1840, Susan E. 



Hall, d. May 4, 1887. Ch. Henrietta, b. May 21, 1843, 
m. June 15, 1861, Augustus G. Davis, d. Nov. 2, 1881. 
ll Cyrus Andre~ii.',' b. June 9, 1S45. Harriet F. b. Nov. 13, 
1847, Ti- Nov. 13, 1S67, Charles E. Lauriat of Boston. Isa- 
dora,h. Oct. 22, 1S50, m. Oct. i, 1879, Dr. C. H. Brockway. 
A'athaniel,' h. Nov. i, 1854, d. Mar. 11, 18S4. 

Larkill P." son of Timothy,^ m. Dec. 3, 1829, Rebecca 
Hunt. He d. Sept. 17, 1S71 ; she d. April 22, 1891. Ch. 
ll Charles Farher,' b. Aug. 31, 1830. Eveline R. b. Jan. 19, 
1832, m. Lorenzo Barnard. Caroline M. b. Sept. 20, 1833, 
m. George Flint of Concord, h Henry Larking' b. Jan. 10, 

1836. \\John Flint'' b. Aug. 24, 1S38. Sarah Augusta, d. 
an infant, h Grosvenor Abijah^ b. Aug. 6, 1S42. Isanna, 
d. young. William E." d. an infant. Isanna H. b. Dec. 7, 
1852, ni. Arthur B. Harvey. 

Timothy R.« son of Timothy,^ m. Feb. 27, 1S34, Mary 
.A. Hersey, d. Mar. 19, 1S91. Ch. Frances Victoria, d. young. 
Marion Josephine, b. May 24, 1837. Thaddeus^' b. Jan. 28, 
1839. William C' h. Aug. S, 1841, m. Aug. 1S67, Helen F. 
Leeds. He is a hardware merchant in New York City. 
Frank H? d. young. 

Timothy R. Page was connected with the United States 
government twelve years, with the governor and council of 
Massachusetts two years, and with the city government 
of Boston twenty-eight years. 

Daniel,^ son of Timothy,^ ni. Nov. 27, 1S45, Charlotte 
Heald, d. June 15, 1851. Ch. George P? Fred.,' Frank E.' 

Benjamin, ° son of John,5 m. Nov. 28, 1844, Lucy Bar- 
nard. He d. May 24, 1873; she d. Jan. 4, 1877. Ch. Cath- 
erine A. d. young. John Adams^ b. Oct. 27, 1847, m. Annie 
Webb. Mary Lyon, b. June 6, 1850, spent some years as a 
teacher in Smyrna. William Barnard^' d. young, h Ben- 
jamin Irving^' b. April 11, 1855. .^"O' P'tch, d. young. 
Frederick Harlan^' b. Dec. 18, i860, m. Grace W. Conant. 
Anna Burnham, d. an infant. 

Cynis Andrew," son of Cyrus,6 m. Feb. 2, 1885, Anna 
M. Phillipps. Ch. Phillips Ward,' b. Nov. 28, 1SS6. Doro- 
thy, b. Nov. 1 1, 1S89. 

Benjamin Irving',' son of Benjamin,^ m. June 2, 18S1, 
Florence Noyes. Ch. Irving Noyes.^ Lucy Simonds. Na- 
thaniel Makepeace,' b. Dec. 25, 18S9. 

Charles P." son of Larkin P.f m. Sept. 2, 1855, Anna 
M. Fish, who d. Sept. iS, 1877 ; m. 2d, Nov. 20, 1879, Mrs- 
Nancy McFarland. Ch. George Alhert,^ b. and d. 1S56. 
Carrie Susie, b. .Sept. 30, 1859, m. Walter Cowin. Corea 
Adelle, b. and d. 1868. 

Heury L.' son of Larkin P.« m. Jan. 10, 1861, Lucy A. 
Wellington. Ch. Fannie L. b. Oct. 10, 1864. Frank Wel- 
lington,^ b. April 10, 1S72. 

John F." son of Larkin Y.<> m. Dec. 6, 1870, Catherine 
E. Reed. Ch. Marshall Reed,' b. Feb. 18, 1872. 

Grovesnor A." son of Larkin P.6 m. Sept. 1SS2, Louisa 
.A. Northrop of Vermont. Ch. Charles Z.8 b. Oct. 5, 1884. 
William L.' b. Oct. 6, 1887. (See military history.) 

PARKER, IVilliam, son of Levi and Hannah (Ged- 
dings) Parker, b. in Lunenburg, Aug. 7, 1813, ni. May y, 

1837, Mary E. (dau. of Warren Maynard and Nancy Hol- 
den), who was b. in Sudbury, Jan. 23, 1S17. They settled 
in Bedford in 1842. He d. Feb. iS, 1S89. Ch. William 
L. b. May 14, 183S. Albert F. b. Sept. 20, 1S40, d. Feb. 
24, 1873. Adelaide E. b. Mar. 19, 1S43, d. Sept. 26, 1854. 
Lillie H. b. April 28, 1846, d. Nov. 16, 1889. Mirtnie E. 
b. May 28, 1853. George M. b. July 24, 1856. 



Pollard. 



28 



Reed. 



POLLARD, Oliver,! „!. Feb. 1735-6, Hannah Hill. 
Ch. Oliver;- b. 1736-7, and others. 

Oliver,- m. 1777, Mary Hill. (See epitaphs.) Ch. 
Oliver? Jane, m. Thomas Smith, d. 186S. Ol<ed.* Mary, 
m. Rev. William Gragg. 

There were others of the name. Walter was a tavern 
keeper, q.v. The family is now extinct. 

PORTER, Joseph, m. Bethiah Batchelder of Danvers, 
and settled here. (See Homesteads, old sites.) He d. 
July 13, 1770. Ch. Molly, b. April 23, 1743. Bethiah, b. 
Nov. 18, 1744. Israel, b. Sept. 2, 1746, settled in Cam- 
bridge as a tavern keeper. Joseph, b. Sept. 6, 174S, d Aug. 
14, 1770. Jemima, b. July S, 1750. Desire, b. Feb. 11, 
1752, m. Abraham Brown of Brookline. Edith, b. Mar. i, 

1754, m. William Caldwell; m. 2d, Pollard. Sarah, 

b. Sept. 29, 1756, m. David Woolley. li fr<//w?«, b. July 
22, 1759. Lydia,h. Sept. 15, 1761, m. Benjamin Trask of 
Lexington. Olive, b. Dec. 2, 1765, m. Simon Hadley of 
Lexington. 

TVilliaill, m. May 4, 1779, Lucy Kibbey ; m. 2d, Rebecca 
Page, widow of Jonathan Wilson. He d. Feb. 26, 1S29: 
2d wife d. Jan. 27, 1834. Ch. William, d. at sea. Polly 
(Mary) b. Sept. 28, 17S1, m. Stephen Bacon. Lucy, b. 
Oct. 3, 17S4, m. Samuel Sage. Betsey, b. July i, 17S6, m. 
Thomas Page. Il Asa, b. . Joseph, b. 1790. (See epi- 
taph.) Martha, m. Bradley V. Bowers; m. 2d, Moses 
Simonds. Sally, m. Israel Porter Hadley. Naiiey, m. 
Edward Flint of Concord. By 2d wife, Jiel'ecca P. b. 
Nov. 15, 179S, m. Thompson Bacon, Jr. 

Asa, m. June 17, 1817, Mary Mulliken of Concord, d. 
Dec. 25, 1S25 (?). Ch. Joseph Mulliken, b. Nov. 24, 1819. 
Mary Rebceca, b. .-\ug. 25, 182 1. 

PUTNAM, John,! and wife, Priscilla, the immigrants, 
came from Bucks County, Eng., to Salem, about 1640. 
Three sons came with them. Thomas," b. 1618, was grand- 
father of Maj.-Gen. Israel Putnam'' of Connecticut. A'a- 
thanielfi b. 1621, was grandfather of Israel^ of Bedford 
(see Homesteads, and epitaphs), who m. July 22, 1722, 
Sarah, dau. of Jonathan Bacon. Israel,^ b. Mar. 20, 1722-3, 
ni. Sarah Hutchinson, had 5 ch. Benjamin,^ b. Aug. 2, 
1725, m. Eunice Rea; m. 2d, Rebecca Farley, had i ch. 
foiiathan,^ b. July 16, 1727, m. Hannah Melvin of Concord, 
had Mary, b. 1750. 

Jouas, of Ro.xbury, m. Mar. 14, iSii, Hannah Evans. 
(See Samuel Hartwell homestead.) He d. Mar. 18, 181S. 
She m. 2d, Moses Page, and d. Aug. 8, 1849. C\\. Jonas, 
b. .^ug. 23, iSii, m. Emeline Tenny. He d. May 30, 1S68; 
She d. Nov. 27, iSSo. Samuel Hartwell, b. 1S15. Lucy 
Desire, b. 1S17. 

TVilliam A. m. July 2, 1846, Mary Ann Smith of West- 
ford and settled in Bedford as a tavern keeper. He d. 
Mar. 1S71. Ch. Mary Augusta, b. Oct. 24, 1S60, m. Wal- 
lace G. Webber. 

Mrs. Mary A. Putnam was the donor of the clock in the 
church tower. 

REED, TVilliaill and Mabel, were the immigrant ances- 
tors who embarked from England in the " Defence," July 
4, 1635, and reached New England Oct. 6 of the same year. 
Thev brought three children with them, viz., — George, 
aged six years, Ralph, aged five years, and "Justice" or 
Justus, aged eighteen months (according to Savage). They 
first settled at Dorchester, and in 1639 went to Scituate. 



where he was constable in 1644. They firmly adhered to 
the rites of the church. He sent his wife from Scituate to 
Dorchester on horseback with an infant, Israel, to be bap- 
tized in 1644. In '648 he purchased a farm of sixty acres 
in Woburn. They soon returned to England, where he 
died at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1656. He left a will, and 
Oliver Cromwell made his wife Mabel executrix on " the 
last day of October, 1656." She returned to this country, 
and lived at Woburn with her children. She m. 2d, Henry 
Sumners of Woburn, and d. June 5, 1690. 

William and Mabel had nine children, of whom Georqe'^ 
m. Oct. 4, 1651, Elizabeth Gennison, who d. Feb. 26, 1665. 
He m. 2d, Hannah Rockwell. He d. Feb. 21, 1706, aged 
77 years. 

William,^ seventh child of GeoJge,^ b. Sept. 22, 1662, 
was a " captain " and a prominent citizen of Lexington, and 
lived on Bedford road. He m. May 24, i685, Abigail Ken- 
dall of Woburn. .She had extra fingers and toes, and from 
that blood the excrescence has appeared in recent genera- 
tions of some branches of the family. He d. May 12, 17 iS j 
she d. Oct. 12, 1734. Ch. Abigail, b. May 29, 1687, m. Jon- 
athan Fiske, and settled in Sudbury. 

h William,* b. July 18, 1693. Mary, b. April 8, 1695, 
m. Dea. John Stone, d. Oct. i, 1772. Benjamin,^ b. Oct. 22, 
1696, m. Rebecca .Stone. Samuel,* d. young. Joshua,* b. 
June 20, 1702, m. Elizabeth Russell. Hepzibah, b. Dec. 10, 
1705, m. Daniel Tidd. 

TVilliaill,'' son of William.3 " Esq. Reed," was promi- 
nent in town and church of Lexington, was captain of mili- 
tia, and was in the French war in 1755. He m. about 1719 
Sarah, dau. of John Poulter, and d. Feb. 11, 177S; she d. 
Nov. 25, 1769. Ch. William,^ 1>. Jan. i, 1720, m. Abigail 
Stone. Samuclf b. May 4, 1722, m. Eunice Stone. Sarah, 
b. June 3, 1725, m. Benjamin Brown. Mary, b. May 10, 
172S, m. William Bowman. \Oliver,^ b. Mar. 25, 1730. 
\John? b. May 28, 1731. Hammou,^ b. .\pril 28, 1734, m. 
Betty Simonds. Eliot, b. April 28, 1737, m. Joseph Bridge. 
Hannah, b. Oct. 21, 1740, m. John Bridge. Nathan, b. Nov. 
9, 1743, m. Mary Page. 

Oliver,^ son of William,'' m. April 11, 1754, Sarah 
Bridge, and d. Sept. 18, 181 1. Ch. XiOliver,^ b. Dec. 11, 
1755. &r«/i, b. Oct. 4, 1757. h A'rti/w,^ b. Dec. 21, 1759. 
(See Homesteads.) Mary. b. Sept. 12, 1763, m. Abner 
Ball. 

Oliver,^ son of 01iver,5 m. May 18, 17S6, Betty Abbott, 
who d. Oct. 22, 1802; m. 2d, Sept. 2, 1810, Mary Fitch, who 
d. May 31, 1812. He d. Aug. 15, 1837. Ch. \\ Nathan 
Oliver^ Mary Elizabeth, twins, b. Feb. 6, 1812. Mary Eliz- 
abeth m. Jarvis Mansfield. 

Reuben,'' son of Oliver,^ settled in South Bedford on 
farm now owned by C. L. Wait. He m. Mary Wilson, and 
d. Feb. I, 1815; shed. July 14, 1843. Ch. \\Lot^'h.]3.n. 19, 
1792. Mary, b. Sept. 19, 1793, ^- '^M' Sally, b. Dec. 3, 
1795, ^- ^^^'■- '-' '^7°- Lsaac^ b. Feb. 24, 1798. \i Jesse,'' 
b. Jan. 31, 1800. Louisa, b. Feb. 22, 1802, m. Elbridge 
Bacon. Betsey, A.^oxm^. A'»(;w,' b. Jan. 31, 1S08. Betsey, 
b. Jan. 6, iSii, m. .A.pril 26, 1835, Rodney Clement; m. 
2d, Nathaniel C. Cutler. 

Nathan Oliver,' son of Oliver,^ had the homestead, 
where he spent his life, q.v. He m. Dec. 18, 1834, Martha 
S. Fitch, who died Mar. 22, 1S41 ; m. 2d, Nov. 10, 1S43, 
Mrs. Nancy Fitch (widow of Abel). He d. April 27, 1865. 
Ch. Martha Fitch, b. Mar. 2, 1841. m. William Thomas, of 



Reed. 



29 



EOBINSOJT. 



Gladbrook, Iowa ; by 2d wife, Mary Caroline, b. April 6, 
1S45. '• A'iilhan J/enyyf b. May 25, 1S48. 

Nathan Henry,* son of Nathan (>.' m. Clara Parker of 
Billerica. Ch. A'allum Parkerf b. Dec. 13, 1.S74. Mary B. 
b. June 7, 1877. 

Lot," m. Lucretia Winship. lie d. Sept. 25, 1S21 ; she 
d. l'"eb. 24, 1S71. Ch. I.Hcehia U. m. Knos Morgan. Emily 
A. m. Charles P. Kobbins. 

Jesse,' son of Reuben," m. Oct. 28, iSig, Ruth Pool. 
He d. 1S39; she d. 1874. Ch. Amanda, b. May 12, 1820, 
d. Sept. 15, 1S46. Malvina, b. Feb. 5, 1S23, d. July 18, 
1844. Mary, d. young. Hiram,* b. Feb. 2, 1828, m. July 
8, 1886, Jennie M. .Adams. Laura J, b. Mar. 7, 1835, ni. 
Albert Huttrick. 

Reuben,^ b. and d. 1S40. 



John,' son of William'' and Sarah Poulter, m. Jan. 18, 
1753, Ruhaniah, dau. of Daniel and Eliot Urovvn. He d. 
Nov. 20, TS05; she d. Jan. 9, 179S. Ch. Rtiliamah, b. Dec. 
I'. '753. '"■ John Lane, 3d. \\John,^ b. June g, 175S. 
Grace, b. April 26, 1760, d. Sept. i6, 1778. \i Roger, b. 
June 14, 1762. Eliot, b. Oct. 22, 1764, d. .Aug. 24, 17S0. 
\i.roullcr,^ b. Feb. iS, 1767. (See Dominie Manse, in 
Homesteads.) Hannah, b. July 8, 1769, m. Joseph Col- 
burn. 

John," son of Johii,''m. Dec. i, 1785, Hannah Merriam, 
dau. of John.'' He d. 1805; she d. 1839. Ch. Anna, b. 
July 2, 1787, d. Nov. 18, 1808. hO/w,' b. Mar. 27, 1791. 

Hannah, b. Sept. 6, 1795, m. Swain, d. Mar. 24, 1823. 

John^' b. April 10, 179S, d. May 13, 1819. 

Hannah Reed, wife of John," gave the principal part of 
the communion service to the church connected with the 
Trinitarian Congregational society, and the "Back Com- 
mon " to the town. 

Roger,"' son of John,'' had a share of the homestead, q.v., 
and m. Nov. 15, 1790, Sarah Webber. He d. June 8, 1844; 
she d. Feb. S, 1S49. Ch. Sally, b. Oct. 8, 1797; m. Alford 
Fitch. Eliot, b. Nov. 9, iSoo, m. Charles O. Gragg. 

Otis,' son of John," m. Emily Winship. He d. 1S29; 
she d. 1831. Ch. Anna W. b. Mar. 2, 1S19, ni. Thomas 
Stiles. //. Malvina Swain, b. Sept. 21. 1S24, ni. .Sylvanus 
Lawrence. 

Poulter," son of John.s ni. Sept. I, 1789, Molly Hart- 
well, and settled in Littleton. Had 6 ch. Their son /<>//« 
Poulter^' b. Dec 22, 1805, m. April 4, 1832, Nancy Whit- 
comb, and settled in Bedford. After twenty-seven years 
they returned to Littleton, remained three years, and then 
settled in Lexington. John P. Reed was representative 
from Bedford in 1S41 and 1843, and a man of influence and 
stability of character. Ch./o///; //<v/ri', d. young. A'ancy 
J. b. Oct. 4, 1835, m. Levi W. Webber. John Morton, b. 
Mar. 6, 1840, resides at Lexington. 



David Reed," a descendant from Williami and Mabel, 
was a tavern keeper, and prominent in military and town 
affairs, ni. Jan. 9, 1772, Hannah Raymond, who d. April 29, 
1790; ni. 2d, 1791, Abigail Simonds, who d. Sept. i, 1S03; 
m. 3d, Mar. 28, 1804, Martha Simonds, who d. Jan. 31, 1834. 
He d. Jan. 6. 1832. Ch. John^' b. 1772, d. 1846. Polly, b. 
1777, m. Jonathan Lawrence. Hannah, b. 17S4, m. Joseph 
Colburn. \\David^' b. 1787. By 2d wife, \i Benjamin,'' h. 
1793. Nabby, b. 1794, m. William Colburn. By 3d wife, 
Susannah, b. 1806, m. Albert Bacon. 

David,' son of David," m. April 23, 1S12, Abigail Dan- 



forth. Ch, Abigail, b. Feb. 3, 1813. Hannah A', b. Jan. 14, 
1823. 

Benjamin,' son of David," m. April 7, 1S17, Sally P. 
Danforth. He d. Nov. 2, 183S; she d. June 15, 1S69. 
Ch. h IVilliam D.^ b. Dec. 16, 1S17. h David,^ b. June 28, 
1819. Lucy Pollard, b. Nov. 21, 1825, m. Eldridge Hart- 
well. George W? b. and d. 182S. Sarah R. b. .April 1833, 
d. Oct. 7, 1S46. 

William D.' son of Benjamin," m. .April 20, 1843, Lydia 
.S. lliitters of linrlington. 

David,* son of Benjamin,' m. April 15, 1S48, Sarah But- 
I lers of Hurlington. She d. Dec. 7, 18S6. Ch. George P'red, 
m. Funny Mason, /da May, b. and d. 1863. 

RICE, David, son of David and Sarah (Brown) Rice, 
b. Jan. 28, 17S2, in Langdon, N.H. He came when quite 
young to Ma.ssachusetts, and learned the trade of a black- 
smith, after which he settled in Bedford and followed that 
occupation. (See Industries.) He m. At)i Willis, who d. 
Oct. 30, 1S20; m. 2d, Jan. 31, 1822, Mrs. Nancy Robbins, 
dan. of Jonathan and Rebekah Page. He d. Jan. 1849; she 
d. April 8, 1S55. Ch. Sarah, b. June 22, iSii, m. Oliver A. 
Wilson, /toroj-, b. Jan. 13, 1813, m. Alexander Mann. By 
2d wile, Harriet, b. Jan. 14, 1S23, m. Stephen Hull. 

ROBBIXS, Parley, m. Jan. 23, 1S14, Nancy Wilson. 
Ch. Charles P. m. Emily .A. Reed, d. Sept. 6, 1876. Ann, 
m. Frederick Bacon, d. June 19, 18S2. 

ROBINSON, William,' resided on a farm of 200 acres 
in Cambridge. He was one of the original petitioners for 
the separation of "Newtowne" from Cambridge in the 

year 1678. He in. Elizabeth , and d. about 1693. Ch. 

Elizabeth. Hannah, b. at Concord, July 13, 1671 (called 
.Ann). She d. in Cambridge, Oct. 5, 1672. IVilliam,^ b. 
July 10, 1673. Mercy, b. Aug. 7, 1676. David," b. May 23, 
167S, "lame and helpless in 1695." Sainucp- M\ii \\Joiia- 
than;- twins, b. April 20, 1680. They were all living, except 
[ Hannah, when the will was probated in 1693. 

[ Jonathan,- son of William,' ni. Ruth . He d. 1753 ; 

she d. .\pril 25, 1759. Ch. \iJonathanfl b. Feb. 21, 1706-7. 
Rnth, b. Jan. 29, 1708-9. Abigail, b. Feb. 4, 1710-11, m. 
Nathaniel Bacon of Lexington. yi/we'.r.'S b. Aug. 30, 1715, 
ni. Anna Trask. Lydia, b. Aug. 29, 1718, ni. Caleb Simonds. 
Hannah, b. Jan 8, 1720-21. 

Jonathan Robinson- is thought to have tn. Ruth Cutler 
i of Cambridge, dau. of Richard, in whose will, made in 1693, 
is the following: "For the two Robinsons, grandsons to 
the deceased." (This was found in papers left by Jonathan 
Robinson.) Isaac Powers of Cambridge sold to Jonathan 
Robinson of Cambridge, weaver, in 1706, a lot of land at 
Cambridge farms (Lexington). Jonathan was tything-man 
I ''1 '735' ^"'' '" '744 *^'<'* "" "^ committee to "dignify and 
seat the meeting-house." 

Jonathan," son of Jonathan,- m. Elizabeth . He 

d. 1748. Ch. E.lizabeth, b. June 20, 1732. Jonathan,'^ b. 
Sept. 29, 1733. h /.'(■!'/',■' b. Feb. 3, 1 73S-9. Siibmit,h?cp. 
July 17, 1743. 

Jaeoh,^ son of Jonathan,^ m. Elizabeth Draper. They 
. were admitted to church Mar. 21, 1775. He d. June iS, 
1776; she d. Sept. 24, 1830. Ch. Jacobf b. Oct. 28, 
1762, m. Hannah Simonds. Elizabeth, d. young. \ijesse,^ 
b. July 14, 1767. Jonathan? b. June 20, 1769, was twice 
married. Betsey, b. Feb. 26, 1772, m. White of Watertown. 
Anna, b. June 28, 1774, m. Gardner of Cambridge. Nathan,^ 
d. young. 

Jesse,' son of Jacob,-" m. Nov. 21, 1793, Rebecca, dau. 



Robinson. 



30 



Sage. 



of Samuel Tidd of Acton, who was at the battles of Lex- 
ington and Bunker Hill. He d. 1S43; she d. 1863. Ch. 
Rebecca, b. Feb. 14, 1795, '"• Diar Quimby. \\Jessef b. 
June 4, 1797. Sarah, b. Aug. 29, 1800, m. Diar Quimby, 
and lived in Charlestown, had several cli., d. 1871. Anne, 
b. Aug. 6, 1S04, m. Nathaniel Paine of Hyannis. Had one 
son. Eliza. Mary, h Charles,^ b. April 10, 1816. Martha. 
(For Eliza, Mary, and Martha see epitaphs. See also 
homesteads.) 

Jesse, ^ an old-time schoolmaster, m. Asenath Buttrick 
of Pelham, N.H. He d. Nov. 1S76. Had 8 ch.. of whom 
Jesse Orin' resides at Mount Vernon, N.H., and has two 
sons and two daughters. Edwin" resides at Littleton, and 
has two sons and one daughter. He is deacon of the Bap- 
tist church in that place. Charles Henry' volunteered for 
three years in the rebellion, and died in the service. 

Charles,^ son of Jesse,^ m. Sept. 1S40, Sophia Billings 
of Acton. She d. July 2, 18S2. Ch. Ellen S. b. June 11, 
1842, d. Mar. 31, 1887. \\Charles F~ b. Sept. 15, 1844. 
\s.Walter B.' b. Sept. 20, 1846. 

Charles Robinson^ lived at the homestead in Bedford 




until 1S67, when he removed with his family to Natick. 
He was a faithful man in the town and church, and a mem- 
ber of the school committee for a series of years. 

Charles F." son of Charles,»m. April 19, 1869, Cornelia 
F. Clark of Gorham, Me. Ch. Ernest Frederick,^ b. Feb. 5, 
1870, a physician in Maynard. Edward Henry,^ b. June 
12, 1873, d. July 27, 1S77. Cora Belle, b. Sept. 14, 1S75, 
d. April 5, 1879. Charles Walter* b. June 3, 1S78. Twrn 
boys, b. May 27, 1880, d. at birth. 

Charles F. Robinson' resided in the West for about 
nine years immediately succeeding his marriage, but re- 
moved to Natick in February, 187S, and later to Marlboro, 
where he is a successful business man. He is deacon of 
the Orthodox Congregational church. (See military his- 
tory.) 



Walter Billingrs,' son of Charles,^ m. June 5, 1S70, 
Ella M. BuUard of Sherborn. She d. Mar. 25, 1S72. He 
m. 2d, Clara F. Mason of Vermont. Ch. Ada Sophia, b. 
Mar. 5, 187 1. Charles Frederick,'' b. Aug. 15, 1S75. E^l'^ 
F. b. Nov. 3, 1877. Ethel, b. Dec. 18S0. Frank Billings,^ 
b. Dec. 1885. 

Walter Billings Robinson" rennvcd from Bedford to 
Natick in 1867, where he is a coal and lumber merchant 
and a man of prominence. 

ROWE, Mcses E. b. in Candia, N.H., Feb. 21, 1S23, 
m. Nov. 27, 1850, Rose A. Morse, b. in Maine, Nov. 27, 
1824. Ch. Enuna J. b. Mar. 2, 1S52, d- Oct. 31, 1856. 
Minnie E. b. Nov. 24, 1853, m. John Brainerd. Frank H. 
b. Feb. 12, 1856, m. Ada Champney. Fannie B. b. Nov. 23, 
1S65, m. A. Elmer Blake. Hattie L. b. July 15, 186S, m. 
Dana B. Clark. 

Moses E. Rowe settled in Bedford on the Ephraim Jones 
farm. He has occupied many positions of trust in town ; 
was chosen a deacon of the Church of Christ, Mar. 29, 
1886. which oftice he now fills. 
SAGE, Samuel,'' b. in England, came to Bedford in 
iSoo. He was a representative of the 
sixth generation, in each of which the 
oldest son was Samuel. Samuel* was 
b. Feb. 6, 17 18. Samuel^ was b. 1752, 
m. Mary Cole. Their tombstones in 
the village burial-ground, in England, 
lead thus: " .Sacred to the memory of 
.Samuel Sage, lale of Dundry, who died 
Feb. 27, 1836, aged 84 years. Also 
Mary, his wife, who died Sept. i, 1S34 
aged 80 years." Samuel^ and Mary 
Cole had 13 ch., of whom Samuel,^ b. 
" Friday morning, half past one, Dec. 
15, 1775," was the immigrant. He m. 
Jan. I, 181 5, Lucy Porter of Bedford. 
He d. April 8, 1S60; she d. Oct. 23, 
1865. Ch. Mary, b. May 19 , 1816. 
Samuel,' d. young, h Samuel^* b. Sept. 
28, 1S26. 

Samuel .'^age^ was a wheel wrisiht by 
trade, and followed the business in the 
village. The landed estate in England 
was large, but the family possession 
for hundreds of years was broken by 
sale after the death of Samuel.' 

Samuel," m. Feb. 12, i£62, Martha 
M. Hill. He d. Nov. 13, 1877. Ch. 
Mary Hill, b. Mnr. i, 1S63, d. July 25, 
1887. Samuel,^ b. Feb. 27, 1869, d. April 3, 18SS. 

Samuel Sage' was often in town office, and was a land 
surveyor of acknowledged ability. He entered the Union 
ariny in July, 1864, for one hundred days, but was confined 
in hospitals most of the time on account of illness. While 
there he was joined by his wife, who did faithful hospital 
service in care of her husband and in the relief of his sick 
and wounded comrades. He removed to Billerica in 1S69, 
where he died in 1877. 

Martha (Hill) Sage was a graduate of Woburn High 
School, and a successful teacher for years. The inscrip- 
tion on the soldiers' monument of Billerica was prepared 
by her. .She was the successful one of seven who com- 
peted for the honor. 

Mary Hill Sage graduated at the Salem Normal School, 



Sage. 



31 



SKelton. 



after completing a course at the Howe School in Billerica, 
and was the youngest in years, but oldest in service, as 
teacher in the Emerson School, Concord, when she died. 

.Samuel Sage* was a graduate of the Howe School, and 
was a student in Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y, when he 
died. He was the last to bear the Christian name in a 
family that is traced back eight hundred years at the fam- 
ily seat at Chew Magna, near Hristol, Eng. 

SIMOXDS. The Simonds family of this town origi- 
nated in Woburn. The name first appears in the records 
of that town in 1644. The date of their arrival in this 
country is unknown. " William .Simonds' of Woburn m. 
Jan. 28, 1644, Judith, MWi^ of James Hayward." It is quite 
probable that William' of Woburn was descended from 
William and Alice of England, to whom there is a memo- 
rial in the cathedral church, Winchester, Eng., with the 
following inscription: — 

Here iielh WiULim .Symonds, Gentleman, 

Of Winchester, twice Mayor & Alderman. 

Alice, his wife, lies buried by his side. 

The one in June, in July tlie other died. 

On the 18th day, 1601, Shee: 

On the 27th day, 1606, Hee. 

His merit doth inherit Life and Fame ! 

For whilst this city stands, Symonds his name. 

In poor mens Hearts shall never be forgotten ; 

For Poorer Prayers rise when flesh lies rotten ! 

Members of the early generations of Simonds became 
associated with Bedford families through marriage, but 
established families do not appear here until the opening 
of the nineteenth century. Uenjatnin of Woburn, of the 
fifth generation, with sons Benjamin and Zebedee, settled 
in the south jiart of the town in 1S05, and engaged in the 
manuf.icture of shoes. 

Boiljailliu*' bought a portion of the Thomas Woolley 
farm in 1S12. He ni. Oct. 27, 1812, Mary, dau. of John 
and Mary (Smith) Simonds of Leominster, who d. Dec. 8, 
1817; m. 2d, .\ug. II, 1S18, Eliz.abeth Butler of Leomins- 
ter. He d. July 31, 1S36; she d. Nov. 22, 1S34. Ch. Caro- 
line, b. Jan. 5, 1S14, m. Cummings E. Davis of Harvard. 
Mary Ann, b. Nov. 22, 181 5, m. Elijah C. Whitcomb of 
Fitchburg, d. .Aug. 1S91. Hy 2d wife. Jam; b. July 17, 
1819, m. Eben Chenny of Royalston. Minerva, b. May 
20, 1821, m. Sylvester Sawyer of Royalston. Justin," d. 
young. Jnslin^ b. Sept. 7, 1S25. 

Benjamin .Simonds'' was a schoolmaster, an e.xtensive 
shoe manufacturer, and a man of influence for some years. 
He removed from Bedford to Clarksville, Mo., where he 
died. 

Zebedcc,^ son of Benjamin,'' m. June 25, 1S07, .'Vmittai 
Webber of Bedford. He d. Sept. 20, 1826; she d. Feb. 20, 
1853. ^^-Jo/in ffiiier,' h. Jan. 14, 180S, d. Aug. 28, 1870. 
hGe0ri;e,'' b. Jan. 15, 1810. Amiltai, b. April 7, 1812, m. 
Nov. I, 1832, Daniel Flagg, d. Mar. 1887. William,'' b. 
April 2, 1S14, d. June 8, 1838. \i Henry,' b. Jan. 19, 1S17. 
Harriet, b. Nov. 6, 181S, d. Feb. 28, 1S43. h Edward,' b. 
Jan. 28, 1820. Bethiah, b. July 23, 1821, m. Mar. 31, 1842, 
Hiram Whitford of New Hampshire. Zebedee^' d. an infant. 

Zebedee .Simonds' came to Bedford with hie father in 
1805, was a shoe manufacturer, and a man who enjoyed 
the confidence and respect of his townsmen. He was 
cliosen deacon in the church, Jan. 17, 1S26, but eight 
months before his death. A memorial window to his 
memory was placed in the meeting-house of the Trinita- 
rian Congregational society, by his descendants, in 1886. 



He was possessed of a good musical talent, which he used 
in the service of song in the choir of the church. 

John Webber Simonds,' son of Zebedee,^ enjoyed but 
limited advantages for education, but was a man of much 
ability. He was representative from his native town to 
the General Court in 1844 and 1S52, and a meinber of the 
convention for revising the constitution in 1S53, during 
the deliberations of which he was often called to the chair. 
He filled many positions of trust in the town. He gave 
some attention to civil engineering, and was prominent in 
laying out the new cemetery. His good taste and skill 
are seen in the excellent arrangement of those grounds. 
He devoted much time to the study of the early history of 
his native town, and left manuscripts of value pertaining 
to the early families which have been of benefit to the 
writer of this volume. 

George," son of Zebedee," m. .'\pril 16, 1S35, .\nn, dau. 
of Joseph and Susanna (French) Jaqnith of Hillerica. He 
d. Oct. 26, 1S76; she d. Oct. 9, 1870. Ch. \iMerton,^ b. 
June 17, 1837. Laura Ann, b. July 9, 1S42, m. Nov. 29, 
1866, James Jones. 

George Simonds' was a prominent citizen of the town, 
was often in town ofilice, and enjoyed the confidence of the 
entire community until his death. 

Henry," son of Zebedee,'' m. Nov. i5, 184S, Jane Lewis, 
settled in Woburn, d. 1S71. Ch. Clara Josephine, b. Nov. 
2, 1849. Emma Frances, b. July 30, 1852. 

Edward," son of Zebedee," m. June 13, 1S44, Mary 
Tidd, and settled in Woburn, where he has been often in 
town oHice. Ch. Mary Elizabeth, b. Feb. 24. 1S57. 

Mertou,' son of George," a skillful painter, and a jus- 
tice of the peace, m. Eliza Porter Webber. Ch. M. Adelle, 
b. Aug. 23, 1S61, d. July 26, 1876. 

Eli, a prominent citizen of Le.\ington, descenilant from 
the immigrant William, located in Bedford, with son, Wil- 
liam Henry, who m. Jennie E. Garty of Concord. She d. 
Mar. 20, 1S91. Ch. Frank H. b. April 5, 1S78. 

SKELTON or SKILTON. Several of the name have 
lived in town, probably all descendants of Rev. Samuel of 
Salem. 

Daize, m. June 19, 1770, Ruth Hartwell. Had several 
ch. b. in this town, and others b. in Woburn. Of these, 
Artemas m. Mary Hodgman of Carlisle, and settled on her 
homestead, where son George S. lived, died, and is repre- 
sented by three sons. 

Elias, m. Dec 2, 1850, Louisa Hartwell, who d. July 2, 
1836; m. 2d, Cynthia Stearns. He d. July 21, 1S87; she 
d. 1S91. Ch. Samuel, d. an infant. Mary Louisa, b. Oct. 5, 
1S33, m. Reuben Lane. 

Elijah (Capt), m. Sarah . He d. Jan. 30, 1S52; 

she d. Dec. 31, 1873. *-•''• E-l'jah, b. Mar. 27, 1S16. Sarah, 
b. Oct. 31, 1818, d. Feb. 4, 1S52. Edwin, b. Sept. 28, 1820, 
d. April II, 1849. Emily, b. and d. 1822. Emily, b. July 

4, 1823, ra. Kimball of Woburn. William, b. Jan. 16, 

1S26. 

Mrs. Sarah Skelton and Mrs. Emily Kimball each gave 
legacies to the Church of Christ connected with the Trini- 
tarian society of the town, and a tablet to their memory is 
seen in the house of worship. 

George C. purchased the Jacob Gragg farm, and settled 
here in May, 18S3. His line of descent from Rev. Samuel 
of Salem is Samuel,- Joseph,^ Thomas.* John,6 b. 1744, 
m. 176S, Joanna Johnson, d. 1821. John," b. 1771, m. 1S09, 
Sally Jaques of Wilmington, d. in Charlestown, 1824. 



Skeltox. 



32 



Steaens. 



George,' b. iSi2,1n. Caroline Curtis of Stockbridge, Mass. 
George C.^ b. April 28, 1838, m. April 28, 1S63, Annie G. 
L., dau. of Charles Gilinan of Somerville. Ch. Annie G. L. 
b. and d. July, 1S64. Edward Jaredf b. June 14, 1865. 
Alice Gordon, b. June 8, 1S68. Walter Elliot? b. Aug. 31, 
1870. George Ashley? b. Dec. 9, 1872. Florence Lowell, 
b. Nov. 6, 1874. Caroline Isabfll, b. Oct. 5, 1S80. Annie 
Gihnan, b. Dec. 5, 1884. 

George C. Skilton, with his father, began the manufac- 
ture of pickles at Somerville in 1831, and is still engaged 
in that business, under the firm name of Skilton & Foote. 
The farm of 100 acres is stocked with thoroughbred cattle, 
and conducted by his son, Edward J. 

SMITH, John, settled here in 1838. He was from the 
south shore of Massachusetts, and was probably descended 
from John of Plymouth, who had children there whose 
marriages are recorded between 1640 and 1650. Our John 
was the Sth ch. of Benjamin and Sarah (Peterson) of Dux- 
bury, b. Jan. 4, 1792. The jjcneration is uncertain, but 
probably the fifth. He m. 1S17, Mercy Tilden of Marsh- 
iield, who d. Oct. 25, 1820; m. 2d, 1821, Bethiah Rogers of 
Marshfield. He d. Aug. 8, 1863 ; she d. May 14, 1878. Ch. 
Lucy Drew, b. July 11, 1S19, m. Silas F. Wild of Medford. 
By 2d wife, Elizahetli, b. Aug. 26, 1822, m. Moses F. Brown. 
'bjo/in Allynf b. Feb. 4, 1824. h George Henry,^ b. Sept. 
19, 1825. 

John Smith was of a seafaring family, and followed the 
sea in early life, sailing under his brother, Capt. Jacob 
Smith, who commanded the ship that brought the first 
Brazil nuts to the United States. John was in South 
America (aged about twelve years) when his mother died. 
During the French war (previous to the war of 1812) his 
brother's ship was captured and burned, and the crew 
taken prisoners. John, with three hundred others, was 
confined in the hold of a brig, which was so low studded 
that he could not stand upright. His possessions con- 
sisted of a pair of duck trousers, a guernsey frock, and 
five doubloons concealed in his stockings. The fare of 
the prisoners was " horse bean " soup, damaged rice, and 
bread. Their allowance of water was one pint a day per 
man. The imprisonment of John Smith was during the 
time when the English impressed American sailors, which 
caused the war of 1S12. When liberated he walked four 
hundred miles to reach home, begging his way. He started 
in business in Boston, on Codman's Wharf, where Quincy 
Market now stands. His business was supplying ships' 
stores. Later, with George Merriam of Brighton, he formed 
the firm of Smith & Merriam, dealers in West India goods, 
at No. 21 Long Wharf. In 1828 he kept the Half-way House 
between Boston and Plymouth. It was situated in West 
Scituate, near the Hingham line. He bought the Pollard 
farm in Bedford in 1S3S, and settled there, where he com- 
pleted his life. 

John Allyil," son of John,'' m. Martha Gleason of Med- 
ford. Ch. Anna Winslow, b. April 2, 1851, m. Francis C. 
Thieler. IJorace Allyn,~ b. Aug. 12, 1853. Sarah Peterson, 
h. June 14, 1857, m. George ^L Weston. Harry Mansnrgli,' 
b. Dec. 2, 1862. 

Georjre H.^ son of John,^ m. Hannah E. Ilartwell, of 
Bedford. He d. Oct. 1889; she d. Mar. 1890. 

SPAULDING. Those of the name in this town, as far 
as known, descended from Edward, one of the original set- 
tlers of Chelmsford in 1654. Sampson of the fifth genera- 
tion settled in Billerica, very near the Bedford line, and 



was identified with the church and society here, where the 
family burial place is seen. He was b. Mar. i, 1775, m. 
Mar. 27, 1804. Susanna Skinner, and d. Feb. 19, 1835. Of 
10 ch. 3 settled in Towa. Benjamin Adams, b. 181 5, a grad- 
uate of Harvard College (1840) and of Andover Theologi- 
cal Seminary (1843), "^^^ ""^ of the "Iowa Band" of 
eleven of his class who went to that territory as home 
missionaries. He was pastor at Ottumwa from. 1851 to 
1863, and d. there in 1S67. He m. 1847, Ann Nichols 
Norris. Maitlia Rehekah, b. 1819, m. 1851, James W. 
Norris of Ottumwa, where she still resides. She was a 
school teacher here at one time. Andreiu Josiah, b. 1823, 
m. 1S51, Elizabeth A. Brown of Concord, N. H., and d. at 
Ottumwa, 1S60. 

Charles, son of Ira and Joanna (Fletcher) of Chelnis- 
fo'd, b. Jan. S, 1803, m. May 4, 1S26, Elizabeth Wilson. 
He d. April 17, 1878. Ch. Lewis, b. June 10, 1S2S, m. 
Annie B. Cutler, d. June n, 1870. George Ti'nA Augustus, 
A. in infancy. Caroline, b. Jan. 13, 1839, d. Aug. 23, 1852. 

Charles Spaulding came to Bedford in 1819, and learned 
the shoe business. He was a man of influence in the town 
and Unitarian church, of which he was a deacon for many 
years. 

SPRAGUE, John, of military distinction, is the first 
of the name in town, and was a descendant, doubtless, of 
Nicholas of Billerica. He was b. April 26, 1759, and m. 
April I, 1784, Phoebe Fitch. He i. Mar. 6, iSio; she d. 
Mar. 25, 1841. Ch. PJioebc, b. Aug. 14, 1784. Sarah, b. 
July 10, 1787, d. April 24, 1805. John, b. Oct. 15, 178S, d. 
May 25, 1S05. Lowell, b. Mar. 6, 1791. Betsey, b. Dec. 3, 
1792, d. Sept. 27, 1S22. Mary, b. Oct. 5, 1795, <^- Nov. 24, 
1S40. Susanna, b. July 11, 179S, m. William Clark. 

STEARNS, variously spelled. 




^Xmxn^ 



"Arms. Or, a chevron between three crosses fiory sable. 
Crest, a cock starling proper." This illustration, furnished 
by Henry A. Stearns, Lieutenant-Governor of Rhode Island, 
was originally taken from one belonging to the Manning 
family, descendants of Isaac Stearns. 

" It is the same as that borne, by families of the name of 
Sterne in the counties of Bucks, Cambridge, Hertford, and 
Norfolk, England; the same also as that borne by Richard 



Stearns. 



33 



Stearns. 



Sterne, Archbishop of York, who was descended from the 
Sternes of Nottingh-imshire. It is probable that all the 
families of the name of .Stearns in the United States are 
descended from three early immigrants, — viz., Isaac, or 
Charles, who settled in Watertown, or Nathaniel, who set- 
tled in Dedham." — Bond. 

IsaaCj^ came to this country in 1630, probably with Gov. 
Winthrop, and settled in Watertown, near Mount Auburn. 
He was made freeman May iS, 1631, which is the earliest 
date of any such admission. (Bond.) He d. June 19, 
1671; wife Mary d. .April 2, 1677. Of their several ch. 
Isaac,- the fourth, b. Jan. 6, 1632-3, m. Sarah Beers, and 
settled in I,e.\ington in 1660. He d. 1676. Their son, 
John,^ b. 1675, m. April 26, 1699, Mary, or Mercy Davis 
of Concord. He is mentioned as a land owner in the 
description of the southern boundary of the town of Bed- 
ford in 1729. His dwelling was south of that known as 
Stephen Davis' estate. (See Homesteads.) He d. June 
14, 1734, and is recorded thus : "Father of Zachariah, Klea- 
zer, and Benjamin Stearns." From his will is the follow- 
ing : " Bequeath to my daughter Mercy Kendal all the right 
I have in a Molatto girl named Mary, now living with 
me." Zachariah,'' son of John," was a petitioner from the 
Concord side for the incorporation of Bedford, and was 
established in a home here. He m. Sarah, and had 6 ch. 
All soon disappear from the town. 

Johu,'- son of I.saac,' was a purchaser of the Dudley 
farm. (Jnc of his portions was fifty acres in the southwest 
corner, bounded by the river and Winthrop farm, which 
became the i>ermanent .Stearns homestead. He was prob- 
ably born in Watertown in 1631, and became one of the 
earliest inhabitants of Billerica. He m. Sarah Mi.\er of 
Watertown. She d. June, 1656, the first death in Billerica, 
except an infant of Henry Jefts. He m. 2d, 1656, Mary 
Lathrop of Barnstable. He d. Mar. 5, i66S-g. His son, 
John? b. "2d week" May, 1654, was either the first or sec- 
ond child born in Billerica. 

Jolin,3 m. Elizabeth Bigelow of Watertown, who d. .April 
iS, 1694; he m. 2d, Joanna, widow of Jacob Parker, and 
dau. of Thomas Call of Maiden. He d. Oct. 26, 1728; 
she d. Dec. 4, 1737. Their &on,Jo/iii* b. Nov. 25, i5S6. 

m. Esther Johnson, dau. of Edward of Woburn, gr.-dau. 
of William Johnson, Esq., and great gr.-dau. of Capt. Ed- 
ward Johnson, author of " Wonder Working Providence 
of Zion's Savior in New England." They had several ch., 
of whom Bond says four settled in Lovewell, Me., where the 
father d. aged 86. His iox\, Josiah? b. Jan. 20, 1731-2, m. 
Sarah, dau. of Uriah Abbott of Bedford. Their son, Sa7ii- 
tielf became the fourth minister of Bedford, q.v. John 
Stearns^ deeded land, in Mar. 1762, to his son, Edward,^ — 
the mill yard. This joined other real estate known as the 
Lieut. Edward Stearns homestead, which was set off to 
Bedford in 1766. 



tc)ti^^^ 




'^ 



b. May 9, 1726, was the head of the family in Bedford. 
He m. May 9, 1755. Lucy, dau. of Thomas Wyman and 



Rachel (Crosby), widow of Samuel Stearns. He d. June 
"> 1793; she d. Nov. 28, 1S02. (See epitaphs.) Ch. Lucy, 
b. Mar. 24, 1756, d. May 20, 176S. Solomoufih. May 12, 
1757. He was with his father at Concord, April 19, 1775, 
entered the army at Cambridge, and d. May 18, 1775. (See 
epitaph.) Rachel, b. Nov. 3, 1758, m. Dea. Moses Fitch 
of Bedford. Edward,'^ b. Jan. 10, 1761, d. May 24, 176S. 
Siismina, b. Dec. 19, 1762, m. Nehemiah Wyman of Med- 
ford. Had 10 ch. Alice, b. Aug. 13, 1764, m. Moses 
Abbott, Jr. ; m. 2d, Stephen Lane, h Ahur,^ b. July, 9, 
1766. Edward,^ b. June 25, 1768, m. Polly Jones of Brad- 
ford, who d. June 28, 1796; m. 2d, Nabby, her sister. He d. 
M.iy, 1798, and she m. Rev. Ehenezer Hill of Munson, N.H. 
h Elijah,'^ b. May 2, 1770. \\Simeon,^ b. April 17, 1772. 




KLI.TAH WYMAN STEARNS. 

Elijall,6 son of Edward,5 m. Dec. 30, 1802, Elizabeth 
(his cousin), dau. of Rev. Josiah Stearns of Epping, N. H. 
He d. April 10, 1831J she d. Sept. 25, 1862. (See Home- 
steads.) Ch. Edward^' b. and d. 1804. Edward Josiah^' 
b. and d. 1S06. Mary Elizahelh, b. Oct. 31, 1807, d. July 
12, 1818. Edward Josiah^' b. Feb. 24, iSio, graduated at 
Harvard College (1833), an Episcopal clergyman and an 
author, d. July, 1S90. Elijah IVyviaii,' b. Jan. 8, 1813, 
graduated at Harvard College (1838), was a teacher for 
several years, and later a druggist in Bedford. George 
O.' b. Aug. 30, 1S15, a dentist in New Haven, Conn. 
Saviiicl French'' b. April 25, 181S, was a dentist in Bos- 
ton, d. 1889. 

Simeon," son of Edward,^ m. Sally Cole. He d. April 
17, 1846; she d. Mar. S, 1863. Ch. Elhridge JVyvtaii;' b. 
.April 22, 1803, m. Dec. 17, 1836, Ruthy Wright. He d. 
Dec. I, 1876; she d. Oct. 31, 1884. Lucy Minerva, b. Sept. 
6, 1S05, m. Ezekiel W. Preston, d. May 5, 1884. Sally 
Miranda, b. May 12, 1808, m. Stephen H. Nichols, d. June 
6, 1S48. 



C^WH£Ay dytt 



OUiyi^X,^, 



son of Edward,^ m. May r, 1797, Anna, dau. of Jonathan 
Hill, who d. Oct. 22, 1S07; he m. 2d, June 30, 1808, Mrs. 
.Anna Estabrooks, widow of John, and dau. of Thomas 
Russell of West Cambridge. He d. Dec. 11, 1838; she d. 
Nov. 29, 1839. They were first interred in the old burial- 
ground, and later removed to Shawshine Cemeter)-, where 
a sarcophagus has been erected by a grateful posterity. 



Stearns. 



34 



Steabns. 



Ch. Abne!■,^ b. April i, 179S. Mary Ann, b. May 23, 
1S09, m. Jonas Monroe of Bedford. She was a prominent 
school teacher. \\ Eihvani Harrison,'' b. Dec. 16, 1814. 
\lGeorge Sullivan'' b. May 17, 1S16. \\ Albert Thomas^ b. 
April 23, r82i. \\ Henry Augustus^ b. Oct. 23, 1825. 

Mrs. Anna Estabrooks had one son, John B., whose 
name was changed to Russell. He was b. in 1801, and d. 
Mar. II, 1891, at Indianapolis. He began the seed busi- 
ness in the store now occupied by Joseph Breck & Sons, 
Boston, was later a publisher in that city, and afterwards 
managing editor of "The Cincinnati Gazette." He was 
nmch interested in agriculture, was in that department at 
Washington for some years, and was a foundation mem- 
ber of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, in whose 
hall a portrait of him may be seen. He was founder of 
"The New England Farmer." 

Abner Stearns was about nine years of age at the open- 
ing of the Revolution. He and brother, Solomon, sleeping 
by his side, were awakened at an early hour of .^pril 19, 
1775, by their father. Lieutenant Edward, who announced 
that the British were coming. Lieutenant Edward and 
his oldest son, Solomon, joined the Bedford company of 
militia, and were early at Concord. There is a well- 
authenticated family tradition that the father was in mili- 
tary authority in the latter part of the day, after the death 
of Capt. Jonathan Wilson. The tradition is strengthened 
by the fact that Stearns and Wilson married half sisters. 
The officers of the Minute Men not being commissioned, 
it is reasonable to suppose that family relations were to be 
considered in this emergency. Father and son reported 
at Cambridge on the following day; the former soon 
returned to his family, and the latter remained on duty, 
sickened, and died May 18. (See epitaph and p. 66.) 

Abner and the other members of the family who remained 
at home, on the east bank of the Concord River, distinctly 
heard the reports of the musketry during the engagement, 
as they were wafted down the stream on the breeze of that 
April morning. He often entertained his family in after 
life with descriptions of his feelings on that day, and of 
the activity of each member, old enough for service, in the 
preparation of food for the army, in running bullets, and 
making cartridges. Rachel, Susanna, and Alice, daughters 
in the family, aged respectively 16, 13, and 11, shared in the 
labors of that day during the absence of father and brother 
at Concord. 

This experience early developed an inherited military 
taste, and he became prominent in the militia of the state. 
He was commissioned as ensign of the Bedford company, 
Oct. 17, 1793. The signature of Samuel Adams is upon 
the commission. He was made captain of the company 
June 8, 1797, and resigned July 20, 1799. These and 
many other military papers are treasured by his grand- 
sons. Among them are "General Orders," dated May i, 
1798, from headquarters, Roxbury, Mass., and signed by 
William Donnison, adjutant-general. This was when the 
country was full of excitement because of threatened war 
with France. 

Although Mr. Stearns enjoyed but limited advantages 
for education, his inquiring mind and perseverance ena- 
bled him to acquire much general and practical knowl- 
edge, and he became the peer of many whose early advan- 
tages had been superior to his. He was a mechanical 
genius, and of an inventive turn of mind. The experi- 
ments that resulted in a machine for splitting leather were 



perfected by him, and the first one ever used was made in 
a room in his dwelling-house ; and the patent credited to 
Major Samuel Parker is in a large degree due to the skill 
of Abner Stearns. In 1S05 he removed to West Cam- 
bridge (Arlington), bought land, and started a woolen 
factory, wliich he sold to John Tufts in 180S. He then 
bought another lot about one-third of a mile above his 
former purchase, and created a water power by digging a 
canal half a mile long, an enterprise almost unprece- 
dented at that time. Here he established a thrifty busi- 
ness in wool carding. A grist-mill was soon added, and 
later altered to one for grinding mineral substances and 
making yellow ochre for paint. He also ran a machine for 
preparing dye-woods. In iSii he erected a large building 
over the brook, where he manufactured machines for split- 
ting leather, churns of a peculiar construction, and various 
kinds of agricultural implements. Among other inventions 
he perfected one for dyeing silk, which has been exten- 
sively used. In this same building he had a fulling-mill, 
and a spinning jenny of seventy-two spindles. The yarn 
was made into broadcloth, and the business was remunera- 
tive until the close of the 1812 war, when importation 
ruined this domestic industry. A patent right issued to 
him, bearing the signatures of President James Munroe 
and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, is among the 
family treasures. 

In 1S16 he returned to his old iionie. His dwelling- 
house, mill, and other property, were in Billerica, but on 
the Bedford line; and a part of the Stearns homestead, 
and all public interests of the family, were identified with 
the people of this town. He was classed among the most 
enterprising, intellectual, and public spirited citizens. The 
impression made in the mechanical arts and upon the busi- 
ness world, by Capt. Abner Stearns and his family, is of 
national repute. Through all of the vicissitudes of busi- 
ness life they have never lost an interest in this town, and 
many of its public and private enterprises have been aided 
by the representatives of Capt. Abner Stearns. 

Mr. Stearns' children all had a thirst for knowledge, and 
were encouraged to obtain it. The only daughter enjoyed 
the advantages of Bradford Academy, and became a teacher 
of enviable reputation. The sons enjoyed a partial course 
in English at the academy in Andover. Edward H. and 
Albert T. were there at the same time. They often made 
the journey of fifteen miles, between home and school, on 
foot; and while there worked to pay their expenses in 
part, some of the labor consisting of planing pitch-pine 
boards which had been floated down the Merrimac River, 
and were sandy and uneven in thickness. The elder 
brother made six cents per hour, and the younger four 
cents. Albert T. planed, by hand, all of the hard-pine 
boards for the floors of two of the buildings used for 
lodging-rooms. The expense of board here was reduced, 
at one time during their course of study, te ninety cents 
per week. It afforded the simple necessities only, but 
these young men, and others who endured such privations 
in order to secure the advantages of mental training, have 
made enduring impressions in the world. 

Abuer,' the oldest child, only one by the first wife, and 
the namesake of his father, ran the mill at the homestead 
for a while, and then went to Bennington, Vt., and later to 
Texas, where he died. He was engaged at both locations 
in the business of a machinist. He m. Mary Dresser of 
Vermont, who, with a son and daughter, survived him. 



Stearns. 



35 



Steaens. 



Edward Harrison," took a course of three years at 
Andover, after which he taught school at Provincetown, 
making the journey to the cape in a schooner He then 
went to Covington, Ky., and spent a season, and later 
started the business of wool carding, having conducted the 
business of the home farm after the death of his parents, 
and had a farm in Stoneham in the meantime. He in- 
creased his manufacturing business by adding a planing- 
mill and general wood-working establishment. This was 
all destroyed by fire, when he erected a set of fire-proof 
buildings. He was ne.\t found in Cincinnati, O., engaged 
in inventing, improving, and manufacturing saw-mill ma- 
chinery. His business next called him to Hamilton, O., 
after which he bought lands in Erie, Penn., and started 
large manufacturing industries. When facilities for trav- 
elling were most primitive, he made personal visits to all 
states in which there were lumbering camps, to introduce 
machinery of his patent and manufacture, which for the 
relief of manual labof was of inestimable value. 

The inventive genius of the father was an inheritance 
with this son. He was credited with thirty patents which 
-•Jtcome of his own mind. .\s is very often the 
\.<i^e, ..principled men sought to obtain his honors by 
infringing upon his patents', and he was known to stand 
in defence of his own rights, in the court house, until he 
fainted from exhaustion. The fame of this son, who began 
life by e.\perimenting in an obscure saw-mill in Bedford, 
h,as spread throughout the land. The .Stearns Manufac- 
turing Company, of Erie, Penn., of which Edward Harri- 
son Stearns was the founder, is the largest establishment of 
the kind in the West, and is known throughout the world. 
Previous to his career saw-mill machinery was very poor, 
and through his efforts a complete revolution was made in 
the lumber manufacture. 

Mr. Stearns was an ardent abolitionist, having imbibed 
the spirit when at -Andover, and from the beginning of the 
anti-slavery movement was a prominent champion of the 
cause. Religiously he was of the faith of Emanuel Swe- 
denborg, was prominent in establishing a church where 
that faith was taught, and the chief financial supporter. 
His energy and public spirit made liim a leader in the dif- 
ferent places of his residence, where he always enjoyed 
the confidence of his associates. 

He married Harriet C. Raymond of Charlestown, Mass., 
and had no children. His death occurred .\ugust, 1880. 

George Sullivan,' when eighteen years old, went West, 
after pursuing a short course of study at Andover. It then 
required two weeks to make the journey to -Vlton, 111., which 
can now be made in twenty-four hours. He was at Alton 
two years, engaged in the milling business, after which he 
spent some time in Kentucky, at farming and nursery busi- 
ness, on the Licking River. Erom there he went to Law- 
renceburg, Ind., and started the lumber business. In the 
year 1840 he was at Cincinnati engaged in printing and ste- 
reotyping. He stereotyped the first copy of the Mormon 
Bible. He experimented in the manufacture of printers' 
ink, and became the leading manufacturer of that article in 
the West. In 1S49 he bought his brother Henry's interest 
in the wadding business, and the two lines were thereafter 
merged in one. It thus appears that George .S. and Henry 
A. were the founders of this firm, which is one of the oldest 
manufacturing concerns in Cincinnati. Mr. Stearns, wi;h 
his sons and others, started the lumber business in Lock- 
land, O., about the year 1880, where they built large mills. 



While this was bemg successfully prosecuted, he engaged 
in several other manufacturing enterprises, the last being 
with his brother, Henry A. (each of whom were represent- 
atives of their respective companies), in the erection of the 
mills of the Dominion Wadding Company, at Montreal, 
Can., of which a son of each is in charge. 

Mr. Stearns built a fine residence at Wyoming, O., 
where he died in 1S89. He was modest and retiring in 
his nature, and was never persuaded to accept any politi- 
cal or public office. He was possessed of rare judgment, 
and was successful in life in the best way. He was gener- 
ous, and always ready to help others. .Among the many 
objects of his benevolence was the Trinitarian Congrega- 
tional society of Bedford, which his father had helped in 
forming, and the church connected with it, in which he 
had learned those principles that predominated during his 
entire life. He contributed liberally towards rebuilding 
the meeting-house, in 1S86, which his father had assisted in 
erecting more than a half century earlier. While always 
greatly interested in church work, and an abundant giver 
in the support of the gospel, he kept himself in the back- 
ground. He had but little to say about religious matters, 
but his life was a constant application of Christianity. 
Through humbling himself he became exalted. He was 
a founder of the Presbyterian church of Wyoming, O., an 
elder, trustee, and large contributor to its support. 

The following tribute of respect is from the pen of 
the widely known editor of "The Cincinnati Commercial 
(J.azette," Hon. Richard Smith: — 

"The late George S. Stearns, who was called to his 
rest on Sunday evening [Nov. 24, 18S9], deserves more 
than a passing notice, as all who knew him will cheerfully 
and sorrowfully concede. Away back in the early forties 
the firm of .Stearns & Foster was organized in Cincinnati, 
and it has continued, growing with its growth, and even 
expanding far beyond its limit. It has proved a firm of 
solid industry, honorable and conservative enterprise, and 
unspotted integrity. It never compromised its obligations. 
In all the years of its history it paid dollar for dollar. 
Now death comes to break this old firm, the oldest in the 
city, and the last, we think, of the firms that had an exist- 
ence back of 1850. 

"But we are to speak of the deceased. He was a use- 
ful citizen. He understood his business, and he kept to it 
very closely. He was a success, but his success did not 
spoil him. Evidently he was not made to be spoiled. He 
did not figure as a statesman, and therefore his reputation 
is not as widespread as it might be; but within his circle 
he had a great reputation that was deserved and will fol- 
low him. He was a rich man, but he h.as left something 
better than gold to those who now mourn his death. 

" It may truly be said of Mr. Stearns that he was a lovely 
man. He was just in all things, harsh in nothing; benevo- 
lent in all things, stingy in nothing. He did good right 
along through life. In this respect he was largely his own 
administrator, and has left a good e.\ample which may well 
be held up as worthy of imitation. 

"Mr. Stearns did not rust out either. He loved honora- 
ble labor, and he died in the harness. 

" All this is said, not for the dead, but the living. Mul- 
titudes will mourn the death and revere the memory of 
George S. Stearns." 

He ra. May 30, 1S44, .\melia, dau. of William Stephen- 
son, who came from England, and d. Nor. 24, 1SS9. Ch. 



Stearns. 



36 



Stearns. 



h George Herbert f b. Mar. 14, 1S45. \i. Edwin Riissellf b. 
Jan. 10, 1S47. h Alfred Monroef b. Jan. 29, 1849. Anna 
Russell, b. April 7, 1851, d. May 13, 1S52. Helen Foster, 
b. Jan. 12, 1853, m. Jan. 19, 1882, Josiah Dwight, had 2 
ch.; the youngest, Anna Dwight, d, Alay i, 1S91. Amelia 
George, b. June 5, 1855, m. Mar. 25, 1S79, Kufus Alan Cow- 
ing, have 4 ch. \\William Stephenson,^ b. April 10, 1857. 
\\. Harold Entilis/i,^ b. July 21, 1859. Arthur Harrison,^ 
b. July 24, 1861, d. Mar. 27, 1880. 

George Herliert,* ni. April 15, 1S74, Isabella M. Weld 
of Boston. Ch. Minot Weld? b. Aug. 20, 1S76. Mabel 
Weld, b. Oct. iS, 1S77. Gordon Weld^' b. Nov. 20, iSSo. 

Edwin Rns.sell,* m. June 14, 1S83, Luella Evans. Ch. 
Dorothy Am,li„, b. Dec. 2S, 1S85. Evans Foster? b. Oct. 9, 
iSSg. 

Alfred Monroe,'' Vale College (1S70), m. April iS, 
1872, Elizabeth Palmer. Ch. Greta, b. Jan. 9, 1S75. Clay- 
ton Palmer,^ b. June 24, 1879. 

William Stephenson,'' m. June 22, 1881, Mecia Lena 
Stout. Ch. Maigaret Rose, b. May 31, 1882, d. Oct. 14, 
l885. Li/ey Stephenson, b. Mar. i, 18S6. Harriet, b. Aug. 
19, 1 889. 

Harold English," m. June 4, 1884, Lela Eleanor Curtis. 
Ch. K'athcrinc Curtis, b. Mar. 5, 1S8S. 

Albert T." after completing his hard-earned course of 
study at Andover, turned his attention to the farm and mill 
at his home. His mechanical taste was early manifested 
in the miniature saw and grist mills made by him, and put 
in operation in the stream running from the pond to the 
mill. At the age of eighteen he was employed by David 
Fitch, in his grist-mill on the Shawshine. In 1S40 he 
worked for Luke Brooks of Cambridgeport. The follow- 
ing year found him at Waltham, in the dry goods trade, 
where he learned to cut clothing, both custom and ready- 
made, — the latter branch of the business being then in its 
infancy. He then spent a year in the grocery trade at 
Vest Cambridge (Arlington), the place of business being 
the Russell store of Revolutionary fame. It was rifled by 
the British soldiers on April 19, 1775. I' '^ s''" '" '^^ 
family name. (The mother of the subject of this sketch 
was a R'Ussell.) The young man was next found at the 
old mill of the homestead, and again back to Waltham, in 
the same store; and from there he carried goods over the 
countr}-, thereby receiving the benefit of open air which 
his health demanded. Each of these experiments failed to 
sati.sfy the adventurous spirit and mechanical genius of 
the young man, and he turned his attention to carpenter- 
ing, and carried on the lumber business together with 
building. He built a planing and saw mill in 1843-4, 
which he operated, in connection with a partner, until 
1S49, when the copartnership was dissolved, and he pros- 
pected for a while. 

Mr. Stearns thought of establishing the lumber busi- 
ness at Cincinnati, O., but the appearance of cholera 
led him to return to his native state. He located at Ne- 
ponset, and started the lumber business in a small way, 
which has developed into a large enterprise ; and the 
A. T. Stearns Lumber Company, which includes father 
and sons, is known throughout the country. They have 
introduced the cypress lumber to New England, and devel- 
oped a new feature of the lumber trade. In 1S83 Mr. 
Stearns turned his attention to the cypress swamps of the 
South, and established a mill at Apalachicola, Fla., where 
the Cypress Lumber Company is under the personal super- 



vision of the youngest son of the founder. Mr. Stearns 
has been identified with the growth of Neponset from a 
few scattering houses to its present prosperity, a period of 
forty years. Fire has caused him to build four mills on 
his site during this time. He has greatly increased his 
acreage by filling marsh lands. He has patented several 
of his new inventions which are in use at present. The 
experimental years of Mr. Stearns' life gave him an insight 
to various branches of trade which has been helpful in the 
development of a self-reliant business man, whose integrity 
and benevolence give him an honored place in society. 

He m. June ii, 1843, Salome Maynard of Sudbury, who 
d. Feb. 7, 1881. Ch. \\. Albert Henry,^ b. Aug. 15,' 1844. 
\iWaldo Harrison? b. Oct. 21, 1847. Francis Maynard,^ 
b. Feb. 17, 1850, d. June 17, 1853. Attna Rnssell, b. Oct. 
14, 1852, d. Dec 31, 1853. \i Frederick Maynard,^ b. Nov. 
23, 1S54. Salome, b. and d. Feb. 1859. Ardelle Atigiista, 
b. Feb. 10, 1S60, m. Frederick C. Moseley of Dorchester. 
Have I son. 

Albert Henry," m. Kate B. De\ter of Pawtucket, R.I. 
Ch. Albert Maynard? b. Aug. 20, 1886. Henry Dexter,^ 
b. Mar. 7, iSSS. Albert Thomas? b. April 22, 1890. -"- 

Waldo Harrison," m. Iczenna Chesbro. Ch.^H^a//// 
Waldo? b. Dec. 28, 1876. Maurice Harrison,^ b. Oct. 1S79. 
Donald Bancroft? b. Sept. i, 1S82. 

Erederick Maynard," m. Julia Marland Ricker of 
Boston. 

Henry Augustus,' was about twelve years of age when 
his parents died. His father, being desirous that he should 
have greater educational advantages than the district school 
afforded, made provision for his attending Phillips Acade- 
my, Andover, where he pursued an English course for two 
years, after which he was dependent upon his own re- 
sources. He supported himself by shoemaking and shop- 
keeping until he was twenty years of age, when he started 
for the West ; and in 1S46 he located in Cincinnati, O., 
and engaged with his half-brother, Mr. J. B. Russell, in 
the manufacture of cotton wadding. In 1848 he bought 
Mr. Russell's interest, and disposed of it to Mr. S. C. Fos- 
ter and formed the copartnership of Stearns & Foster. In 
1S49, '^^ works having been twice destroyed by fire and 
rebuilt, he disposed of his interest to his brother, George 
Sullivan. 

Early in the spring of 1850 he turned his attention to 
California, with the many who were attracted to the Pacific 
borders at that time. His keen perception led him to the 
belief that a steam laundry was needed in that new and 
rapidly developing country. He purchased the required 
machinery at Cincinnati, and started with it down the Mis- 
sissippi and over the Gulf of Mexico to Chagres, and then, 
after much labor, across the isthmus, the boiler being car- 
ried overland to Panama by detachments of men. He 
then took passage, with his freight, for San Francisco, in 
an old whaling vessel, which proved unseaworthy and 
came very near foundering. In the delay the provisions 
were exhausted, and all on board were allowed only four 
ounces of bread and a pint of water each per day. The 
craft floated about on the Pacific four months, and when 
Mr. .Stearns reached his destination he was a physical 
wreck, and life was despaired of; but he rallied, set up 
his machinery, and successfully established the first steam 
laundry in California. After a time he sold his interest to 
his partner, and opened the largest restaurant in San Fran- 
cisco at that time. Pie soon purchased an interest in a 




^^.-n^iyi Q/ui^'l^-^^— 



Stearns. 



37 



Stearns. 



steamboat, and ran the first regular steam ferry between 
San Francisco and the present city of Oakland. While a 
resident of San Francisco he witnessed the execution, by 
the vigilance committee, of numerous ruffians who had 
floated in there with the tide of immigration. For the 
ne.xt two years he was chiefly engaged in running a saw- 
mill, at San Jose, and keeping a store at Gilroy. 

Ill the fall of 1S53 he returned to Cincinnati, and resumed 
the manufacture of cotton wadding, with the old company, 
on a more extensive scale. His health necessitated a 
change in 1857, and he removed to Huffalo, N. Y., and 
started a new industry, — the manufacture of hardware. 
While here, with large investments, the disastrous finan- 
cial period began, and Mr. Stearns saw his accumulations 
swept aw.ay. He sought to retrieve his fortune in Sanga- 
mon county. 111., where he bought a tract of timber land, 
set up a saw-mill, and carried on a farm for three years. 

The year 1861 found him at Pawtueket, R. I., associated 
with Darius Goff and others, in the manufacture of cotton 
wadding. The business has increased from a small begin- 
ning, through the energy of Mr. Stearns and his associates, 
until the Union Wadding Company has one of the largest 
and best eiiuipped establishments of the kind in the world. 
Mr. Stearns has been the superintendent from the begin- 
ning. The Company has mills at .Vugusta, Ga., and Mon- 
treal, Can. Mr. Stearns' son George is superintendent of 
the Southern mills, and his son Deshler, with a nephew, 
Harold E. Stearns of Ohio, are managers of the latter 
industry. 

The inventive genius of the father, Capt. Abner Stearns, 
is well represented in his youngest son, the subject of this 
sketch. He has devised several contrivances which have 
been of great value in his business. lie has also obtained 
a number of patents on cotton-gins, and on machinery for 
extracting oil from cotton waste and kindred substances. 
Another of his patents is the railway safety gate,'so gener- 
ally used in all parts of the country where tliere are rail- 
road crossings. 

Mr. .Stearns resides at Central Flails, R.I. He has filled 
many important positions of trust in the place of his resi- 
dence, represented the town of Lincoln in both branches 
of the General Assembly, and was elected lieutenant-gov- 
ernor of Rhode Island in 1S91. He is one of the trustees 
of the Franklin Savings Bank of Pawtueket, and was for 
two years president of the Pawtueket Kusincss Men's Asso- 
ciation, lie is the largest stockholder in the Kilby Manu- 
facturing Company of Cleveland, O., the business being 
the manufacture of sugar-mills, paper-mills, steam engines, 
etc.; and he has a cattle ranch in New Mexico. Reli- 
giously, he followed in the footsteps of his parents, who 
were honored members of the Trinitarian Church of Bed- 
ford, and is a member of the Central Falls Congregational 
Church, of which he is a liberal supporter. 

He m. June 26, 1S56, Kate Falconer, of Hamilton, O. 
Ch. Deshler Fa/conerfi b. Aug. 7, 1857. George Kussell,* b. 
Jan. 19, 1S60. Walter Henry? b. Jan. 3, 1862, m. June 5, 
1S90, Abbie Harris Razee. Kate Kitssell, b. July 21, 1S64. 
Charles Falconer? b. July 27, 1S66, graduated from Amherst 
College in iSSS. Henry Foster? b. Mar. 3, 1S68. Anna 
Russell, b. Jan. 4, 1873, d. Feb. 7, 1874. Caroline Cranston, 
b. Jan. 18, 1S75. 

It IS noticeable in the family record of the last three 
sons of Capt. .Abner Stearns and .-Vnna Russell, that each 
had three daughters, and one of each trio was named Anna 



Russell ; and that each namesake of the grandmother died 
in infancy. Anna, dau. of Josiah Dwight and Helen Stearns, 
and gr.-dau. of George S. Stearns, d. May i, 1891, while our 
MSS. was in the hands of the printer. 



Isaac^ (Hon.), a soldier in the P'rench war, magistrate 
and distinguished citizen of Killerica, became so generally 
identified with Bedford through his marriage, and that of 
his children, that he is introduced here. He m. Feb. 11, 
174S, 'Sarah, dau. of Obed and Elizabeth Abbott of Bed- 
ford. He d. Mar. 23, 180S; she d. Jan. 9, 1S15. 

William,^ son of Isacc'' and Elizabeth (Abbott), b. Aug. 
4, 1752, m. Sept. 25, 1777, Betsey Davis of Bedford. 

William,' son of William,^ b. June 19, 1778, m. Feb. 
12, i8oi, Betsey, dau. of Thaddeus and Sarah Davis. He 
d. Sept. 19, 1823. She d. July 27, 1844. Ch. Horatio Davis,^ 
b. Jan. 19, 1803. Selinda, b. Sept. 18, 1804, d. April 27, 
i860. Matilda Caroline, d. young, li William Albert,^ b. 
Oct. 12, 1809. Elizabetli Caroliitc, b. Dec. 9, iSii, d. June 
8, 1S8S. Charles Bliuher,^ b. Aug. 16, 1814. Isaac Davis,^ 
b. July 21, 1821, m. Sept. 16, 1857, Catherine L. Knight of 
Woburn, d. Oct. 30, 1S82. Ch. Mary Kilburn, b. June 12, 
1859, d. Nov. I, 1877. Fannie Davis, b. May 5, 1867, m. 
Sept. 1 1, 1S90. Frank E. Soles. 

Willlaui Albert,* son of William," m. April 3, 1S34, 
Clarissa Tarbell. He d. Mar. 22, 1871; she d. Oct. 20, 
1877. Ch. Henry Augustus,^ b. Feb. 26, 1836, m. Sept. 3, 
1857, Mary F. Williams, d. May 29, 1863. Emily Ann, b. 
Oct. 28, 1838, m. July 4, 1S72, George A. Fuller. Samuel 
Wirt,'> b. Sept. 28, 1841, d. in the Civil War (see p. 69). 
William Frederick? b. Mar. 19, 1S46, m. June 3, 1891, Helen 
A. White. 

William Albert Stearns was a shoemaker by trade, and 
a man of prominence in town and church. (See town 
officers.) He was deacon of the Church of Christ, and 
clerk of the Trinitarian Congregational society connected 
with it, at the time of his death, which occurred at Lowell, 
in March, 187 1, while he was serving as juror in the supe- 
rior court. 

1111101117,^ s°" °f Isaac,5 b. Sept. 25, 1763, m. Nov. i, 
1787, Sarah, dau. of Jonathan Lane of Bedford. He d. 
Aug. 8, 1816; she d. June 13, 1849. Of his ch., Obcd^ b. 
Mar. 21, 1801, m. May 27, 1827, Mehitable Carleton, and 
settled on a farm in the south part of the town. They had 
Josiah Obed,* b. Oct. 17, 1S30; Amos,* b. 1831, m. Oct. 
1856, Mary A. Hartwell; Eckley.s 

Eckley Stearns* was deacon of the Congregational 
church in Woburn. He gave one of the Rose windows 
in .\mherst College church as a memorial. 



SaillueP (Rev.), the fourth minister of Bedford, was the 
fourth son of Rev. Josiah' of Epping, N.H., and grandson 
of John of Billerica and Esther Johnson of Woburn. He 
was b. at Epping, N.H., April 8, 1770, and m. May 9, 1797, 
Abigail, dau. of Rev. Jonathan French of Andover. Ch. 
Abigail F. b. and d. 1798. Abigail F. b. Jan. 7, 1800, m. 
Jonas Monroe, d. Jan. 1833. h Samuel Horatio,'' b. Sept. 
12, 1801, d. in Paris, France, July 15, 1837. Sarah Caroline, 
b. April 15, 1803, m. Sept. 27, 1827, Rev. Forest Jefferds. 
ll William Augustus,' b. Mar. 17, 1805, d. June S, 1876. 
Maria H b. Nov. 14, 1806, d. June S, 1881. \iJonathan 
French,- b. Sept. 4, 1808, d. Nov. 11, 1889, Elizabeth W. 
b. July 29, 1810, m. Dec. 8, 1831, Dea. Charles James. 
Josiah Atherton' and George Washington,' twins, b. Sept. 



Stearns. 



38 



Stearns. 



I, 1S12; Josiah d. Sept. S, 1SS3; George d. in infancy. 
Charlotte Esther, b. Sept. 17, 1S14, m. Rev. Jonathan Leav- 
itt, q.v. Ann Catherine, b. Oct. 10, 1S16. Y^Ebeitezer S? 
b. Dec. 23, 1S19, d. April, 1887. 

The public life of Rev. Samuel Stearns has received 
extended coninient in the ecclesiastical and general chap- 
ters, and the following biographical notice is in part the 
same as found in the appendi.x to Shattuck's history of 
Concord, published soon after the death of Mr. Stearns. 
It was gathered from the sermon delivered by Rev. Sam- 
uel Sewall at the funeral of his honored friend and brother 
in the ministry. 

Rev. Samuel Stearns was born at Epping, N.H., April 8, 
1770, fitted for college, after his father's death, at E.\eter 
Academy, under the patronage of Hon John Phillips, its 
founder, and graduated at Harvard College in 1794. His 
theological studies were pursued under the direction of 
Rev. Jonathan French of Andover. He was ordained over 
the Church and Society in Bedford, April 27, 1796. A 
new religious society having been legally formed, Nov. 
9, 1S32, by the name of the "Trinitarian Congregational 
Societ)'," and the church having voted, at a meeting, May 
9, 1S33, to dissolve its connection with the First Parish, 
and to accept an invitation given it to unite with the new 
society. Rev. Mr. Stearns was solemnly constituted the 
minister of that society, June 5, 1833. He died Dec. 26, 
1834. It is worthy of remark, that, during the whole of 
his protracted ministry, almost thirty-nine years, he was 
never absent from his people at any communion season 
but one, — viz., that which occurred about two weeks 
before his death. 

More than a half century has passed since Rev. Samuel 
Stearns entered into rest, and but few remain who received 
early instruction from him ; yet his influence for good is 
still active. 

When the church was repaired and newly furnished, in 
1886, a memorial window was consecrated to his memory. 
In this, the e.xtended hand, holding the uplifted cross, is 
artistically represented, and the following inscription is 
seen : 

In Memoriam. 

Rev. Samuel .Stearns 1796 — 1S34. 

Samuel Horatio was the oldest son, and second child 
that survived infancy, of Rev. Samuel Stearns and Abigail 
French. He was a feeble child, of a serious, thoughtful 
mind. His early education was obtained in the village 
school, under the careful direction of his thoughtful pa- 
rents. He entered Phillips Academy, Andover, Decem- 
ber, 1S16, then a little more than fifteen years of age. He 
united with the church in Bedford, of which his father was 
pastor, June i, 1817. He entered the freshman class in 
Harvard University in the autumn of 1819, and taught 
school at times during his course, which was pursued 
with difficulty, because of physical weakness, graduating 
in August, 1823. His part in the commencement exercises 
was the Latin salutatory. "On taking his second degree, 
three years after, he delivered the master's valedictory in 
Latin." Mr. Stearns spent some months as teacher in 
Phillips Academy, and joined the junior class in the Theo- 
logical Seminary, at Andover, in December, 1S25, complet- 
ing his course there in the autumn of 182S. He preached 
in Philadelphia during the following winter, as an assistant 
to Rev. Dr. Skinner, and paid much attention to recruit- 



ing his health. After seasons of preaching in the Federal 
Street Church of Newburyport, Park Street Church of 
Boston, and elsewhere, he was ordained as pastor of the 
Old South Church and Society of Boston, April 16, 1834. 
His health, which at that time seemed to be well estab- 
lished, soon began to fail, and he was able to preach but 
two Sabbaths and one sermon. He returned to Bedford, 
spent some months journeying by carriage through New 
England and elsewhere, and in all ways endeavoring to 
renew his strength so as to be able to resume his pastoral 
work, but received no permanent benefit. He asked a 
dismission from the church and society where his beauti- 
ful spirit and brilliant talents had been manifested so short 
a time. Being persuaded of the recuperating influence of 
a sea voyage, and a journey abroad, he sailed for London, 
June 8, 1S36. He spent months journeying through the 
mild latitudes of the continent, during which time strength 
and weakness were alternating, and was on his homeward 
journey, having reached Paris, when strength failed, and 
he passed away July 15, 1S37. His remains were brought 
to this country, and deposited in Mount Auburn, Dec. 26, 
1837, the fourth anniversary of his father's death. 

William Aug'llStllS, D.D., LL.D., was the second son 
of Rev. Samuel Stearns and Abigail French. He was 
taken to the parish church and baptized on the day of his 
birth, which was a cold Sabbath in March. The custom 
then prevailing of baptizing an infant on the first Sabbath 
after its birth was rigidly adhered to by the pastor of the 
town. The lu.\ury of a fire was never known in the first 
meeting-house. Such an act of religious form when viewed 
from present custom seems presumptuous, but no harm 
befell the infant. William Augustus was a precocious 
scholar. At the age of si.\ years he recited the Assembly's 
.Shorter Catechism entire at one lesson, in the church, and 
agreeable to rule was afterwards allowed to occupy the 
"spectators' seat " during recitation, and see companions 
of twice his years struggle with this ancient compendium 
of religious instruction. At fourteen years of age he com- 
mitted the entire Gospel of Luke in one week, working in 
the hay-field with the men the while through the day. He 
carried his Testament in his pocket, and stole a verse now 
and then as opportunity was afforded. He was equally 
forward in the study of the Latin language. He seized the 
opportunity one afternoon, when the book which served 
several of the brothers was not in use, learned his first 
Latin lesson, and presented himself before his astonished 
father for recitation. 

William A. Stearns, looked upon as so saintly in after 
life, was a boy among boys, as were the others of the par- 
sonage. They were forbidden to engage in fights with 
companions. This family rule became known to others, 
and a stout, swaggering fellow, of twice the size of Wil- 
liam, took advantage of it, and began to bully and torment 
him beyond endurance. He went home to his mother with 
the grievance, and declared that he could not stand it any 
longer, and that his companions would regard it cowardly 
in him not to stand up in self-defence. After listening to 
his impassioned story, the mother asked, "Do you think 
you can handle him.'" "Yes!" was the boy's positive 
reply. "Well," she rejoined, "I do not like to have boys 
fight." This did not veto his plan, and the next time he 
was attacked in the company of his mates he caught the 
big fellow, thrashed him thoroughly, and threw him over 
the nearest stone wall. 



Stearns. 



39 



Stearxs. 



He received the same course of training that his brother 
Sainuel enjoyed, and was obliged to practice the most 
rigid economy while pursuing his studies at Andover and 
at Cambridge, as were his brothers. He graduated from 
Harvard College in 1827. During his college course he 
never hired a conveyance in all of his journeys between 
his native town and Cambridge. He taught school each 
winter, earning thereby some twenty or twenty-five dollars 
a month. He spent the year after his graduation in teach- 
ing, as principal at the Duxbury Academy, and there formed 
the acquaintance of the lady who afterwards became his 
wife. His course of theology was taken at Andover. Of 
his class, six have been editors, eight professors in colleges 
or theological seminaries, two presidents of colleges; sev- 
enteen have been made doctors of divinity, or of law, or 
of both. 

He was ordained and installed pastor of the First Evan- 
gelical Congregational Church, in Cambridgeport, Dec. 14, 
1831, and remained in the position twenty-three years, lack- 
ing only a few days. He saw his church grow from an 
unpopular remnant to a strong, influential, and popular 
church, and his annual salary increased from $700 to 
|l,SOO. 

Mr. Stearns left this flourishing position with much 
reluctance, to enter upon a broader field of labor as presi- 
dent of Amherst College, in November, 1S54, where he 
remained until his useful life was terminated by death, 
June S, 1876. The growth and general prosperity of the 
college, during the twenty-two years of Dr. Stenrns' presi- 
dency, is sufficient proof of his ability and failhfulness. 
Shortly after he entered upon the presidency, he was 
appointed a member of the Massachusetts Board of Edu- 
cation, and was an active member for eight consecutive 
years. He was a leading lifrht among the members of the 
corporation of I'hillips Academy and the Theological Sem- 
inary at Andover. In 1S53 the honorary degree of doctor 
of divinity was conferred upon him by Harvard College. 
In 1862 the College of New Jersey added to his honors the 
title of doctor of laws. 

During the war Dr. Stearns was wise in his counsel to 
the young men of the college who felt called upon to enter 
the army. Among the members of the college who gave 
up their lives for the Union was his own son, who fell 
fighting within the enemy's lines at Newbern. "One of 
the guns which he and his comrades captured, and near 
which he fell, presented to the college for that purpose by 
the commanding general [A. K. Burnside], is an expressive 
troi)hy at once of the bravery of .Vdjutant Stearns and of 
the patriotic devotion of his father." Among the many 
published works of Dr. Stearns was that inspiring book 
for youth, "The Life of Adjutant Stearns." The Amherst 
College Church, or Memorial Chapel, was erected during 
the presidency of Dr. Stearns. The three rose windows 
were given as testimonials of regard for the president. 
The donors were Dea. Eckley Stearns of Woburn, Gov. 
Onslow Stearns of New Hampshire, and the Church of 
Christ at liedford. 

Dr. Stearns was president of the Massachusetts Home 
Missionar)- Society for seventeen years, 1859 to 1S76. 

The history of his native town, and of others in the im- 
mediate vicinity, was of much interest to him. He inaugu- 
rated the centennial celebration of the battle of Lexington, 
by preaching an admirable sermon in Hancock Church on 
the Sabbath and day preceding the great convocation. He 



gave an historical address, in July, 1S6S, at the half-century 
celebration of the organizing of the first Sabbath school in 
Bedford, of which he was an original member and his 
father the founder. The people of Bedford who were the 
associates of William A. Stearns in their youth, with their 
children and grandchildren, have each in turn delighted to 
honor this distinguished son of the town, and rejoice that 
he found here a birthplace and early home; that he loved 
to turn his steps to this town when active service permit- 
ted, and that the cherished hope of his declining years 
was to complete his life where it began. But this was not 
so ordered; death met him in the midst of activity, with 
his baccalaureate sermon partly finished. 

Joiintliail French, D.D., was the seventh child and 
third son of Kev. Samuel Stearns and Abigail French. 
Rev. David H. Frazer, D.D., said of the subject of this 
sketch, in a memorial sermon delivered in Newark, N.J., 
Dec. I, 1SS9: "Although character is a growth, the quali- 
ties which underlie character are received by inheritance; 
hence there is much in every man's life that is directly 
traceable to his ancestry. In this respect Dr. Stearns was 
peculiarly favored." 

He fitted for college at Phillips Academy. While there, 
he, in conjunction with Horatio B. Hackett, Ray Palmer, 
and others, organized the Philomathean Society. His pre- 
paratory education was chiefly obtained through his own 
efforts; he boasted that he earned with his own hands the 
money that paid for his first Latin grammar. He entered 
Harvard College in 1S26, and there had the aid and com- 
panionship of his two older brothers, who had preceded 
him in classical study. The Hon. Charles Sumner was his 
classmate, and for a time his room-mate. The friendship 
then formed lasted until the death of the statesman. In 
order to meet his own expenses while at college, he taught 
country schools, and served as tutor to students needing 
such help; among those thus aided was Amos Lawrence, 
his lifelong friend. He assisted William H. Prescott in 
the preparation of his life of Ferdinand and Isabella, by 
translating Spanish manuscripts. He and Charles Sum- 
ner were founders of "The Nine," a literary society con- 
nected with the college. His theological studies were pur- 
sued at Andover Seminary, and under the direction of hi.' 
father and older brother, William. 

He was licensed to preach in October, 1S34, and was 
ordained and installed pastor of the First Presbyterian 
Church, Newburyport, Sept. 16, 1835. He remained here 
fourteen years, and secured for himself a well-deserved 
and enviable reputation in the profession. He accepted 
a unanimous call from the First Presbyterian Church of 
Newark, N.J., and was installed as pastor of that church 
on Dec. 13, 1849. He compiled the history of the First 
Church in that city in the early years of his second pas- 
torate. This has proved to be invaluable, both to the 
church and city; upon it all subsequent works of local 
history have been based. In 1850 he was made a director 
in Union Theological Seminary. In the same year the 
honorary title of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him 
by Princeton College, and in 1864 he was made a trustee 
of that institution. Drs. Stearns and Poor were instru- 
mental in forming the German Theological Seminary, at 
Bloomfield; the former was president of the board of 
directors for many years. 

In 1879 Dr. Stearns was selected by the people of his 
native town to deliver an historical address, on the occa- 



STEAEIfS. 



40 



Steakns. 



sion o£ the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary o£ the 
incorporation of the town. This service required many 
months of careful preparation, and was given as a labor 
of love. It was published in connection with a detailed 
account of the celebration, and is treasured as a lasting 
memorial of this honored son of Bedford. 

Dr. Stearns was relieved from active duty after thirty- 
three years of faithful service in this his second charge. 
He was made pastor emeritus .•\pril i, 1SS2, and given a 
liberal support for life. 

He died Nov. 11, 1S89, having been in the pastoral office 
fifty-four years, which, with the exception of seven and a 
half years, were full of the most active service. In 1S43 
Dr. Stearns was united in marriage with Miss Anna Pren- 
tiss of Portland, Me. She died Jan. 2, 1869. Children 
who have inherited grand qualities from both parents are 
doing valuable service in the world. 

Josiall Atlierton, A.M., Ph.D., was the ninth child 
of Rev. Samuel Stearns and Abigail French (a twin mate 
died in infancy). His advantages for early education were 
the same as those of his older brothers, but he did not 
take a collegiate course ; yet in advanced life he received 
the honor of the title of Master of Arts from Harvard Col- 
lege, and is erroneously credited in the ecclesiastical sec- 
tion of this work, and in other publications, as having 
taken the same course of classical study that his brothers 
did. The absence of this training was an occasion for 
regret to himself, but seldom noticed by others. After his 
academic course Mr. Stearns entered upon the life of a 
bookseller and publisher; but this was neither in accord- 
ance with his taste, nor a financial success. He soon 
found employment, more in the line of his early training 
and inherited tendency, in the public schools of Boston, 
where he spent the remainder of his active life, retiring 
from service in 1SS2, one year before his death. He was 
honored near the close of his school service with the title 
of Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Nashville, 
Tenn., of which his younger brother was the chancellor. 

A notice of the death of Mr. Stearns, published in "The 
Boston Journal," Sept. 8, 18S3, contained the following: 
"Josiah A. Stearns, A.M., Ph.D., was one of the veteran 
schoolmasters of Boston, whose intelligence, conscientious 
and untiring, though perchance not conspicuous, efforts, 
have done so much to build up and perpetuate the excel- 
lency of our common school system." He was for thirty- 
nine years in the service of the city of Boston, as usher in 
the Adams and head-master of the Mather, Lawrence, and 
Norcross schools. (See epitaph.) The system which pre- 
vailed at one time gave him the additional responsibility 
of ten primary schools and a boys' grammar school of eight 
hundred pupils. His former pupils, numbering tens of 
thousands, remember him as a careful, thorough teacher, 
and a genuine, open-hearted friend. The testimony of 
many is that of one involuntarily uttered while leaving the 
village church at Bedford, where the funeral services were 
held : " I owe all that I am as a successful business man to 
the one whose body rests in the casket yonder." 

The following memorial is self explaining: — 
CITY OF BOSTON. 

In School Committee, Sept. 26, 1SS2. 

Resolved, That in accepting the resignation of Josiah A. Stearns, 
master of the Norcross School, this committee is glad to place upon the 
records a recognition of the many admirable qualities with which Mr. 
Stearns has advanced his office through a teaching service in the employ- 
ment of the city of more than thirty-nine years. 



Resolved, That his most fitting memorial is in the love and veneration 
of tlie hundreds of men and women whose youth he helped to train in 
high and noble ways, and who in his old age will continue to cail him 
blessed. 

Resolved, That we extend to him most cordial wishes that he may 
live long to enjoy the satisfaction of honor, love, obedience, and troops 
of friends, which he has earned in his public work and private worth. 

Resolved, Tliat these resolutions be entered upon the records of the 
board, and a copy thereof, properly engrossed, be sent to Mr. Stearns. 

Adopted tmanimously. 

.\ttest: Phineas Bates, Jr., Secretary. 

RY E. BENTLEY YOUNG OF HOSTON. 

Josiah A. Stearns was actively identified with the Ma- 
sonic fraternity for more than twenty-nine years. He 
served his brethren in important and influential positions, 
and always with a deep sense of the responsibility of office. 
As chaplain of several bodies he was best known. For 
years he presided at the altars of the lodge, chapter, and 
commandery. In prayer he was especially gifted; his 
words were happily chosen, and his thoughts appropriate. 
Seldom absent from the meetings, genial in manner, wise 
in council, eloquent in speech, he was greatly beloved by 
his associates; his companionship was delightful. His 
services were gratefully appreciated by his brethren, who, 
in two of the bodies with which he was connected, unani- 
mously elected him an honorary member. 

He was proposed for the degrees in Columbian Lodge, 
March 2, 1S54, by Bro. J. W. Barton, was initiated May 4, 
1854, and raised a Master Mason, Oct. 26, 1854. Within 
three or four years from that date his brethren learned of 
his peculiar fitness to serve the lodge as chaplain, and by 
i860 he was duly installed in that position. In 1S63 he 
had gained the confidence of his brethren so fully as to be 
elected junior warden, from which position he was regu- 
larly advanced till he became master of the lodge in 
1866-7. Having served the body faithfully and efficiently, 
he again became its chaplain, and continued to hold that 
position till the day of his death. 

He was also chaplain of .\bourdour Lodge from its 
organization till his death. Of this body he was an hono- 
rary member. 

He was exalted in St. Paul's Royal Arch Chapter, May 
II, 1859, and was made a member of that body April 20, 
1874. In this body he also officiated as chaplain for sev- 
eral years. 

On June 7, 1869, he received the order of the red cross 
in Joseph Warren Commandery, that of the temple June 
22, 1S69, and the Malta in the following September. Here 
again he was called to the important oflSce of chaplain or 
prelate as early as 1S71, which position he retained till 
Nov. I, 1882, failing health compelling him to withdraw 
from further activity, much to the regret of his brother sir 
knights. His attendance upon the meetings of the com- 
mandery, during the twelve years he served the body as 
prelate, was constant and uninterrupted ; so say the rec- 
ords of the body to-day. 

He early applied for the degrees of the ancient accepted 
Scottish rite. He is on record as having received the 
thirty-second degree in Boston Consistory, April 17, 1863, 
and affiliated with Massachusetts Consistory, thirty-second 
grade, Feb. 15, 1871, when the latter body united with Bos- 
ton and De Witt Clinton Consistories. In the subordinate 
Scottish bodies he retained membership until the date of 
his death, Sept. 8, 1883. 



Stearns. 



41 



Stiles. 



In the Grand Lodge of Masons of Massachusetts he 
acted at one time as chaplain, and also filled the oftlce of 
grand steward for some time. 

An elegant and life-like portrait in oil of Wor. Uro. 
Stearns adorns the walls of the ante-room of Sutton Hall, 
Masonic Temple, Boston. It was procured by his numer- 
ous friends in Columbian Lodge. It is a just tribute to 
the memory of a brother whose active interest in, and 
enthusiastic regard for, the Masonic institution endeared 
him to the hearts of all with whom he came in contact. 
That memory will continue a vivid thing with the v.irious 
Masonic bodies he served so well. 

His funeral tooU place in the Congregational Church of 
Bedford. It was largely attended by the fraternity, Colum- 
bian Lodge conducting the impressive burial service of the 
fraternity, and Joseph Warren Comniandery performing 
escort duty on that occasion. 

Mr. .Stearns was also a member of the Order of Odd 
Fellows. He was a veteran Odd Fellow, having been a 
member of the order more than twenty-five years. He was 
not particularly active in the order, his Masonic relations 
being so pressin;: as to absorb his hours of leisure. 

Mr. Stearns always manifested a citizen's interest in the 
. town of his nativity, and was liberal in support of the 
church of wliich his father was pnstor during the whole of 
his ministerial life. 

The old homestead at Kedfoid, established by the third 
minister of the town, and purchased by Rev. Samuel 
Stearns (father of the subject of this sketch), became the 
properly of Josiah A. Stearns after the decease of his 
mother. He lavished much of his ample salary in trans- 
forming the rocky acres into productive fields. Every rod 
of upland and meadow. w'S precious to him. He relig- 
iously cheri.shed the I' • jardy poplars in front of the 
mansion that had given '• leir best service tn his parents, 
and the graceful elms that had shaded the play-grounds of 
a noble family. In conjunction with his sister. Miss Ann 
C. .Stearns, he carefully preserved the chambers where 
great and good men had studied and slept, and where a 
generation had been born and trained. During seasons 
of active labor Mr. Stearns retired to his ancestral home 
for the refreshing quiet that is only found in a typical 
New England village, and spent the greater part of his 
vacation seasons here, surrounded by the children and 
grandchildren of his brothers and sisters, all of whom 
enjoyed the respect of the people of the town. In all of 
his arduous labors Mr. Stearns never forgot his native 
town ; and it may truthfully be said that the children of 
Rev. Samuel Stearns never lost an opportunity in which 
to honor, by word or deed, the town of Bedford. Mr. 
Stearns prepared a sketch of the history of the town for 
Drake's "History of Middlesex County," and was spend- 
ing his leisure hours on a prospective work of local his- 
tory when his health failed. His manuscripts are sacredly 
cherished by his family for an extended work by some 
future historian. 

The grand celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth 
anniversary of the incorporation of the town was in a 
large measure due to his leadership, although score; of 
the sons and daughters of Bedford contributed freely 
towards the enterprise, which for conception and execu- 
tion was a marvel of success. Mr. Stearns jilanned and 
conducted the first "Memorial Day "service, and was active 



on each succeeding day of national memorial. He wrote 
several occasional hymns, one of which is found on p. 70. 

Ebeil S., D.D.) was the youngest of thirteen children 
of Rev. Samuel Stearns and Abigail French. He gradu- 
ated from Harvard College in 1841, studied theology, and 
was ordained as a minister of the gospel. During his 
ministry at Epping, N.H., he did faithful woik in rescuing 
the records from oblivion, and in putting them into a con- 
dition to be of future use ; but his life work was that of a 
teacher in several institutions for higher education. He 
taught in the Ipswich High School, and Free Street 
Female Seminary in Portland, and was principal of the 
Female High School in Newburyport for a term of five 
years. This experience prepared the way for him to do 
valuable work in the normal school in its experimental 
years. He took charge of the State Normal School of 
Massachusetts in September, 1849. It was then located 
at West Newton (was first established at Lexington in 
1839). He was the third principal of the school, his pre- 
decessors having been Rev. Cyrus Pierce and Rev. Sam- 
uel J. May. The historical sketch prepared for the semi- 
centennial of the school, by Mrs. Electa N. L. Walton, has 
the following: "Mr. .Stearns was devoted, earnest, exact, 
and gentlemanly, and won the cordial support uf teachers 
and pupils. He had a nature of unusual gentleness, and 
a win.some humor that made him a delightful companion. 
As a teacher he inspired confidence in his pupils to do 
their best, while his recognition of any lady-like refinement 
in them was an inspiration to be true to his expectations. 
It seemed impossible to be rude or heedless under his 
observant eye. He impressed his pupils with the dignity 
of the teacher's work, and his influence upon them was 
lasting." Printed diplomas were first given at the close of 
his first year of work in this school. 

Mr. Stearns was in the South, on account of a throat 
trouble, when the spring term of 1S51 opened, and he 
addressed the school thus by letter: "Outspread before us 
lies its page of unsullied purity. . . . New hopes are the 
blossom wreaths that surround it, and guardian angels 
whisper encouragement and peace as they hold out and 
beckon us to write, and write we must and ever shall ; 
there is no escape. We write with the blood of the soul, 
indistinct, pale at first it may be, but ere long to blaze 
forth in brightness more dazzling than the sun, and more 
enduring than if engraved on marble. Each letter, well 
formed or ill, each attempted erasure, each careless spot, 
each foul blot, remains. ... Is it not, then, of the utmost 
importance that you begin rightly.'" 

In .September, 1S55, Mr. Stearns resigned, to take charge 
of the female academy at Albany, N.V. He was chancellor 
of the State University of and principal of the .State Nor- 
mal School of Nashville for several years. He died while 
performing these double duties, in 1SS7. He was honored 
with the titles of D.D. and LL.D. in the last years of his 
useful life. He was twice married, and a widow and three 
children survive him. 

STILES, Thomas, of Moretown, Vt., came to Bedford 
a young man, served as clerk in a store, and became the 
proprietor and followed the business many years. He was 
a justice of the peace, and postmaster; was town clerk from 
1846 to 1863, and in other important town ofiices. He m. 
April II, 1S3S, Anna W. Reed. He d. Dec. 19, 187S; she 
d. Sept. II, 1885. 



Taylok. 



42 



Webber. 



TAYLOR, John, son of William and Mary (Merriam), 
b. Oct. 19, 1653, m. Mar. 26, 167S, Eunice Woolley. Ch. 
Eunice. Mary, \r\. Nathaniel Merriam, q.v. Rebecca, m. 
Joseph Bacon (see family and epitaph). David, m. Ruth 
Jones. JotmtJiati, m. Mary Jones. 

Mrs. Eunice Taylor and her son-in-law, Dea. Nathaniel 
Merriam, gave a cup to the church, which is still pre- 
served. 

Samuel, b. in iMigland, came to this country in 1S40, 
wife d. in England in i84r; m. 2d, 1S42, Anna Jane Lang- 
hard. He d. Dec. 17, 1883; she d. Feb. 22, 1SS4. Ch. 
William and Alice. 

WALTER, Frederick A. b. in London, Eng., Mar. 2, 
1834, m. 1856, Anne C. Hibbs, and settled in Bedford, 
1872. He d. Mar. 7, i88r. Had 8 ch. 




Wrbder Cradle, used by the family since 1690. 

WEBBER, James,! of .Scotch descent, ca ue from New 
York to Medford; b. probably 1665, d. Mar. 19, 1729, was 
father of Jonathan,- James,- Benjamin,- and Nathan.- The 
Webbers of Bedford descended through Benjamin,'^ who 
m. .Sept. 6, 1727, Susanna Whitmore, dau. of John and 
Mary (Lane) Whitmore of Medford. (See Chap. VH.) 
He d. July 27, 1732; she m. 2d, Christopher Page of Bed- 
ford, d. July 20, 1792. Ch. Susanna, b. Mar. 21, 1728, 
d. April 2, 1743. Martha, b. Aug. 2, 1729, m. John Hos- 
mer, both d. in Medford. /ienja?nin,^ b. Feb. 14, 1731, 
supposed to have settled near Ponifret, Conn. \\/o/tn,^ b. 
Nov. 25, 1732. 

Jollll,^ son of Benjamin,- m. .April, 1760, Sarah, dau. of 
Joseph and Amittai Fassett, who d. May, 9, 17S2; m. 2d, 
Nov. 21, 1786, .Susannah, dau. of Benjamin Simonds of | 
Woburn, and widow of Ebenezer Page of Bedford. lie 
d. .April 29, 1808; she d. Feb. 5, 1825. Ch. 'h/o/iit,^ son 
of John,^ b. Dec. 31, 1760. h William .* b. Nov. 29, 1762. 1 
h/ose/'/i,-' b. Nov. 21, 1764. Sara//, h. Mar. 18, 1766, m. : 
Roger Reed, d. Feb. 8, 1S49. h/o/i.^ h. May 16, 1769. 1 
Benjamin,* b. Dec. 21, 1770. h/ames,* b. Oct. 16, 1772. 
Susanna, h. Jan. 28, 1774, d. June 8, 1774. h /1.ra,* b. June 

20, 1775. Thotnas,* b. Dec. 27, 1777, m. Bacon, d. ! 

Aug. 6, 1S46. Lydia and Lucy, twins, b. Oct. 27, 17S0; 1 
Lydia m. Samuel Hetcher of Littleton, d. June 27, 1813; ! 
Lucy m. Elijah Putnam of Amherst, d. Sept. 20, 1837. 

John Webber and Sarah Fassett had twelve children; 
eleven of them survived their mother, who died at the age ' 
of 38 years. The aggregate age of the eleven was 78 1 
years; average, 71 years. The eight sons lived to an 
average age of about 76 years. 

Capt. John Webber was possessed of a strong mind and 
great energy. In early life he followed the seas, and was 
not married until twenty-eight years of age. He lived in 



East Bedford some years before he purchased the Dan- 
forth farm (Kenrick's). He bought the farm of Samuel 
Danforth in April, 1773. He was often in public service ; 
was collector, treasurer, and clerk of the town, delegate in 
important conventions of the Revolutionary period, and 
i representative. 

! John,^ son of John,3 m. Dec. 15, 1785, Bethiah Lane, 
dau. of Job* and Susanna. She d. Aug. 8, 1S34; he d. 
Dec. II, [846. Ch. Amattai, b. Aug. 31, 1789, m. Zebedee 
Simonds, d. Feb. 20, 1853. Bethiah Lane, b. Aug. 16, 1799, 
m. Benjamin Reed of Lexington. 

William,'' son of John,^ m. May 10, 1791, Mary .Abbott. 
He d. Sept. 21;, 1S33; she d. May 24, 1817. Ch. Policy, d. 
an infant. \\ Hiram.^ b. June 9, 1794. IVilliam,^ h. May 
I9> 1796. m. Mariah Gifford of Charlestown, d. Mar. 1853. 
Mary, b. Feb. 22, 1799, m. Daniel Hartshorn. \i Benjamin 
Ahlwtt,^ b. Dec. 25, 1S02. Betsey Abbott, b. Aug. 26, 1806, 
m. George Wilson, d. .Aug. 25, 1846. Susanna, b. Nov. 14, 
1809, d. Sept. 5, 1855. Moses,^ b. and d. 1811. 

William Webber* was prominent in town affairs, being 
clerk almost one-fourth of a century; was representative to 
the General Court eight years, and enjoyed the confidtnce 
of his townsmen to the end of life. He was a justice of 
the peace. 

Joseph,'' son of Juhn,^ m. Oct. 5, 1794, Ruth Brooks of 
Woburn. He d. .Aug. 24, 1844. Ch. \\ Joseph, Jr.,^ and 
possibly others. 

Job,'' son of John,^ m. June 21, 1796, Sarah Davis. He 
d. Oct. 10, 1S38; she d. Jan. 31, 1861. Ch.John,^ b. April 
25, 1797, d. Sept. 24, 1S79. Sally and A'aticy, twins, b. June 
9, [798; Sally m. James Park, d. Dec. 27, 1857; Nancy, d. 
Mar. 6, 1879. \\Artemas,^ b. May 3, iSoo. Job /'age,^ b. 
Nov. 23, i8oi, d. Vth. 19, 1875. L'li:a Farley, b. June 12, 
1805, d. Jan. 21, 1839. Benjamin Newton,^ b. Aug. 24, 

1812, m. Sept. 5, 1S37, Ann Urie, d. Sept 12, 1837. 
James,'' son of John,^ m. Hannah Davis. He d. May 

21, 1852; she d. Jan. 20, 1S35. Ch. Hannah Rebeckah, b. 
Sept. 16, 1810, d. Sept. iS, 1S44. Lydia Pai;e, b. Jan. 27, 

1813, ni. David Clark of .Arlington. hH''////<7ff;^ (adopted 
son). 

Asa,'' son of John,3 m. .April 30, iSoi, Eliot (Reed) 
Lane. He d. Nov. 8, 1850; she d. July 26, 187S. Ch. 
Ruhamah, b. April 14, 1802, m. Nov. 30, 1S26, William 
Hartwell,<j d. Aug. 31, 1879. Eliot, b. June 26, 1804, m. 
Eldridge Merriam, d. July 24, 1855. John Lanef b. Dec. 
3, 1808, m. Sarah Whitford, d. Feb. 12, 1859. Lucy and 
Lydia, twins, b. June 5, iSii ; I^ucy m. Nov. 13, 1S28, Ben- 
jamin F. Hartwell, d. April 20, 1834; Lydia d. an infant. 

Hiram,'^ son of William,-' m. July 20, 1824, Fidelia 
Page. He d. Jan. 18, 1857; she d. April 5, 1834. Ch. 
Mary Abbott, b. July 16, 1825, d. young. George Edward,^ 

b Jan. 24, 1827, m. .Sophia . Has 2 ch. in California. 

Ifarriet L. m. G. L. Sanderson, lives in California. Mary J. 
m. T. II. Dearing, M.D., of Braintree. I-idelia Page, b. 
Feb. 25, 1834, adopted by Reuben Thorpe of Lowell, m. 
1862, .A. W. Sturdy of Attleboro. 

Beujamill Abbott," son of William,* m. April 12, 1826, 
Mary Ann Twist. He d. Aug. 7, 1846; she d. Aug. 9, 
1890. Ch. Caroline Matilda, b. April 21, 1S27, d. Feb. 9, 
1839. \\Levi William,^ b. Feb. 17, 1832. Henry Phelps,^ 
b. Feb. 22, 1842, m. Esther Flint, d. May 6, 1890. 

Joseph, Jr.^ son of Joseph,* m. 1819, Eliza Bacon. 
He d. in South America in 1849 ; she d. Feb. 16, 1890, in 
Minnesota. Ch. Octa,''^. 1819, resides in Manderville, La. 



Weubek. 



44 



Wilson. 



Charles Stom\^ b. Nov. 17, 1S20, d. 1S34 of cholera at New 
Orleans. Theresa, b. Mar. 9, 1824, m. 1844, Joseph Litch- 
field, d. 1853. Joseph Thmnpson^ and Henry Augustus^ 
twins, b. Sept. 1828; Joseph T. d. June i, 1S44; Henry A. 
d. 1S29. Irene W. b. Jan. 26, 1S37, m. Dec. 17, 1855, Ben- 
jamin F. Clark. 

Mrs. Eliza Webber died at the home of her daughter, 
Irene W. Clark, Minneapolis, after a long and useful life 
of ninety years in the world which she helped to make 
beautiful. She was active in all reforms for the benefit of 
humanity, particularly her own sex. At the age of eighty- 
six she was made president of a woman's suffrage league, 
and was the first to cast her vote when school suffrage was 
granted to the women of Massachusetts, being then four- 
score years of age. .She was a firm Spiritualist, active in 
temperance work, and in her last years, spent in Minneapo- 
lis, she became an enthusiastic Nationalist, and was an 
inspiration to the club by her own hopeful words concern- 
ing the brotherhood of humanity, a theme ever prominent 
in her thoughts. 

Artemas/ son of Job,-" m. May 20, 1S27, Sarah Wyman 
Richardson. He d. 1846; she d. 1874. Ch. \\Marcus 
Bnicefi b. Mar. 9, 1828. Sarah Abigail, b. Jan. 23, 1830, 
m. Henry Gleason, d. Dec 23. 1876. Ruth A. b. Feb. i5, 
1834. Afdria Cordelia, b. Dec. 4, 1837, m. Alvah Cotton. 

William,^ adopted son of James Webber and Hannah 
Davis, m. Oct. 11, 1S35, Mary'W. Gleason, d. Feb. 1848. 
Ch. ll Charles W.^ b. 1836. ll William A.^ b. 1840. h Edwi>i 
F.fi b. 1843. 

Levi William,'' son of Kenjamln," m. Nancy J. Reed. 
Ch. A/'/'Otl Reed,' b. Sept. 23, 1877. 

Levi W. Webber is a successful merchant in Boston. 

Marcus Bruce,'' son of Artemas,5 m. Nov. 22, 1852, 
Elizabeth Frances Gleason. He d. Feb. 12, l885; she d. 
1887. Ch. A'a/e Putnam, b. Jan. 21, 1855, d. Aug. 12, 1864. 
\\Wallace Gleason,'' b. Aug. 13, 1856. Carrie Maria, b. Aug. 
9, 1858, d. May 23, 1881. Arthur Wyman," b. Sept. 9, 1S60, 
d. May 15, 1863. Henry Francis,' b. Dec. 7, 1862, d. Oct. 
22, 1S64. Warren Putnam,'' b. May 12, 1864, d. Feb. 28, 
1S66. Afarian Waldo, b. Oct. 21, 1S65. Alfred Augustus' 
and Alden Brown'' twins, b. Nov. 28, 1868. Lizzie Frances, 
b. Jan. 15, 187 1. Olife Putnam, b. Nov. 19, 1872. Lewis 
Butler,' b. June 4, 1875, ^^- ^'-^- 4' l^75- Marcus Hvuiard^ 
b. Aug. ID, 1876, d. Nov. 2, 1876. 

Marcus B. Webber^ was early engaged in the manufac- 
ture of shoes, later became a merchant, which business he 
followed until death. He was postmaster nearly a quarter 
of a century, selectman, collector of taxes, school commit- 
tee, and in other positions of public trust within the gift of 
the town. He was superintendent of the Sabbath school 
connected with the Church of Christ and Trinity Congre- 
gational Society for twenty-five years. A memorial win- 
dow, the gift of the Sabbath school, adorns the house of 
worship of that society, where he labored for the good of 
others. 

Charles W/ m. Mar. 17, 1S69, Satah A. Davis. Ch. 
Mabel L. b. Dec. 30, 1869. Arthur P? b. Aug. 26, 1872. 
Ernest W.'' b. June 13, 1881. 

William A.^ m. Francis M. Whitney. He is prominent 
in musical circles and an inventor of musical instruments. 

Edwin F. m. Maria H. Kelley, who d. April 2, 1881. 
Ch. Louise Gertrude. He is a noted singer and musician. 

Wallace Gleason,' sou of Marcus K.^m. June 22, iSSi, 
Mary A. Putnam. Ch. Carrie Putnam, h. June 3, 1882. 



Paul Baron,^ b. April 27, 1884. Marcus Bernard,^ b. Jan. 
3, 1S8S. Lewis Gleason,* b. Aug. 30, 1S91. 

Wallace G. Webber" entered Blackstone Bank, Boston, as 
a boy, was rapidly promoted in positions of trust, until he 
resigned to form the copartnership of Paine, Webber & Co., 
Bankers and Brokers. He has met with financial success, 
and enjoys the honor and confidence of the public. His 
love for the town of his nativity and that of his ancestors 
led him to make many ventures to promote its welfare. 
He purchased tracts of land, opened streets and put house- 
lots into the market, and built many houses. His transac- 
tions in real estate in the latter part of the nineteenth cen- 
tury, and those of Joshua Page in the early part of the 
century, mark two very important epochs in the history of 
the town. He was chosen as his father's successor in the 
superintendence of the .Sabbath school, where he is a 
faithful worker. He is president of the Bedford Lumber 
and Manufacturing Company, also president of the Bed- 
ford House Association. He was chairman of the Build- 
ing Committee of the Union School House. 

Twins seem to be an inheritance in the Webber family. 
Twin daughters were born to Capt. Johni and Sarah (Fas- 
set) Webber. There were two instances in the third gen- 
eration, viz., to Job^ and Sarah (Davis) Webber, and also 
to Asa- and Eliot (Reed) Webber. (Sarah Davis was a 
twin. See Davis family.) Joseph,^ Jr., and Eliza Bacon 
had twins. Twins were born to Marcus B.^ and Elizabeth 
F. (Gleason) Webber, and Elizabeth F. Gleason was a 
twin. 

WILSON, or WILLSON. The family was located in 
the Shawshine district very early in the history of the set- 
tlement. 

"John (Sen.), first appears upon the ta.x-list in Woburn, 
iu the rate for the country, assessed 26 Aug. i655, and is 
numbered among those who had right in the common lands 
of the town in 1668." (Sewall's Woburn.) 

His son John is doubtless the one who had a grant of 
thirty acres of land, in 16S5, "for encouragement towards 
his ccun-mill." He was established there as a miller before 
that date, as in 1683 Billerica voted "to give one days work 
of each man in ye town and of team of those that have 
them for the making a sufiicient way to John Wilson's 
corn-mill." According to Billerica records, "21.311. 16S3, 
at a town meeting on a training day, the town granted to 
John Wilson, Junr- privilege upon our commons for ye 
future, to the proportion of a five-acre lot, he paying to 
ye town's use twenty shillings in silver, within six months." 
John Wilson, Jr. (Lieutenant), was prominent in the early 
wars, "at the Eastward," in 1692-3, and Cotton Mather 
says "distinguished himself by the relief of Dover from 
an Indian alarm." 

Lieut. John- died in Bedford, Feb. r, 1735, aged 84 years. 
There are several depressions on the surface, on the Wil- 
son farm, that suggest early cellars; and family traditions 
strengthen the evidence. The records prove that several 
families were flourishing here soon after the incorporation. 
The several heads may have been sons of John.- 

"Mr. Samuel Wilson, Jr., d. Jan. 21, 1740. 

"Mr. Joseph Wilson, Jr., d. Sept. 12, 1748, aged 43. 

"Mr. Ebenezer Wilson, d. Mar. 9, 1751. 

"Rhoda, dau. of Mr. Joseph Wilson, Dec. 17, 1753. 

"Mr, David Wilson m. July, 1755, Judith Johnson of 
Woburn. 

"Mr. David Wilson d. Jan. 23, 1757. 



Wilson. 



45 



WOOLLEY. 



"Jacob, the son of Jacob and Hannah Wilson, b. Sept. 

"9. '734" 

John'^ and Rebecca deed to sons Francis' and Samuel' 
the mills and homestead in Bedford, Feb. 23, 1729. 

Francis,' m. Tatience . Ch. Rebecca, b. May 7, 

1733, m. William Maxwell of Bedford. Probably had other 
children, among whom was h/nmes* 

James,'' m. Lydia , d. June 24, 1753. Ch. LyJin, 

b. April 22, 1744. Mut/i, b. Oct. 6, 1745. Afa/y, b. June 
17, 1748. Paltee, b. Aug. 30, 1750. \ijamesf b. Dec. 14, 
1752. 

James,* m. .Vbi Wheeler, d. lSis. Ch. Ahi, m. Amos 
Butters. Javus,^ b. Nov. 14, 1775, m. Dolly Gleason. 
/o/mf m. Polly Goodwin. T/iatli/eusfi b. Nov. 16, 1778, 
m. Mar. n, 1802, Molly Lane. \i Francis,^ b. .Mar. 15, 
1 78 1. Lydia, m. Woodward. Phiiteas.^ 

Francis,' m. Elizabeth Colburn. Ch. h Francis"' b. Dec. 
16, 1804. Eli;al>et/i, b. .Sept. 27, 1S07, ni. Charles Spaulding. 

Francis,' m. Feb. 7, 1S28, Alvira Heath. He d. Jan. 
12, 1S57; she d. .'Vug. 19, 1S60. Cli. Alvira A. b. Feb. 23, 
1830, d. Oct. 21, 1S85. Emcline S. b. Sept. 9, 1823, m. Wil- 
lard Brockway, d. April 24, 1S70. Addic, b. Feb. 1839, d. 
July, 1S60. A'ellie L. b. Mar. 10, 1845, m. James Holmes 
of Plymouth, N.H. 

Jonatlinn (Capl.) (generation uncertain), m. a dau. of 
Hugh Ma.xwell; m. 2d, Oct. 8, 1761, Elizabeth (Stearns), 
widow of John Bacon. Ch. \\ Jonathan, Jr., b. 1763. 

Capt. Jonathan Wilson was killed April 19, 1775. (See 
epitaph and military history.) 

Jonathan, Jr., m. July 24, 17S4, Rebekah Page, d. 
Sept. 25, 1797. Ch. Susanna, b. F"eb. 8, 17S5, m. June 17, 
1806, Timothy Jones. Lr.i, b. April 2, 178S, m. April 8, 
1S13, .Sukey Harrington. Cyrus, b. Nov. 28, 1790 (at Lex- 
ington), d. Dec. S, 1790. Nancy, b. Oct. 14, 1792, m. Jan. 
23, [S14, I'arley Robbins. 

Jonathan Wilson, Jr., .-ierved a campaign of three months, 
in 1780, in Rhode Island. (See Chap. XXVHL) 

WOOI>. The tirst of the name in this town descended 
from William, who settled in Concord in 1638. The line 
is William,' Michael,''' Jacob,' Capt. Ephram,* Ephram, 
Esq.'' (Judge), Daniel,'' Elijah," Henry" (who settled in 
Bedford in 1850). 

Henry,* m. Nov. 26, 184S, Lydia Augusta Willis. She 
d. Nov. 9, 1885. Ch. Elizabeth F. b. .\ug. 26, 1S49, ">• 
Albert R. Boynton. h Charles H. b. June 20, 1851. 

Henry Wood is a flourishing farmer, has been prominent 
in town otfice, and was representative to the General Court 
from District No. iS in 18S5. 

Charles H.'* m. July 28, 1870, Harriet F. March. Ch. 
/lenry March}" b. and d. Nov. 1871. Frances Lydia, b. 
Mar. 5, 1873. Hcnvard March,V b. Mar. 22, 1S75. May 
Josephine, b. Mar. 17, 1S76. Elizabeth Farmer, b. Aug. 26, 
1878. Geor e Henry,'^" b. Dec. 12, 1881. Florence Willis, 
b. Feb. 16, 1890. 



For Stephen A. (M.D.) see professional men. 

For WOOLLEY, see Homesteads. 

WRIGHT. The name appears here before the Revo- 
lution. Judah and Tabitha had Tabitha, Bettey, and Patty 

James and Ruth (probably Fassett) established the fam- 
ily here. He d. Dec. 24, 181S; she d. Jan. 6, 1830. (See 
epitaphs.) Ch. Ruth, b. Aug. 9, 1769, d. Sept. 16, 1775. 
Sally, b. Dec. 12, 1772, d. Sept. 2, 1775. hjames, b. Nov. 
2, 1774. \\John Tidd, b. Dec. 16, 1777. Betsey, b. Aug. 6, 
1779, m. Joseph Brown, d. June 30, 1818. 

James Wright was in the Revolution, was a deacon of 
the church from 17S5 to 1S17, and a leader in the music 
of the church services. 

James, m. Mar. 16, 1797, Dorcas Page. He d. Mar. 27, 
1S26; she d. Nov. 22, 1846. Ch. Timothy Page, A. young. 
\i.Joseph Bixby, b. Sept. 13, 1804. Dorcas Emily, b. July 
12, 1806, m. .Seth Sweetser of Woburn. Sally, b. Sept. 22, 
1S08, m. Abel S. Monroe. Betsey, b. Mar. 28, 1810, m. Ed- 
mund Hoar. Margaret S.&.yoxmg. Ciirc/Zwc, b. Sept. 28, 
1814. 

John T. ni. Oct. u, 1796, Hannah Proctor. Ch. Han- 
nah, Ruthy, Glorianna, and others. 

Joel and Dolly H. had George Cleveland, b. Jan. 7, 1823. 

Joseph Bixby, m. Mary E. Smith. He d. July 18, 
1879; she d. Oct. 5, 1857. Ch. James E. b. .Vug. 16, 1833 
(vinegar manufacturer in Cambridge). Henry E. b. 1836 
(can manufacturer in .Somerville). 




Lane Homestkad, 

Built by John Lane* about 1750, continued in the family 
possession by Jonathan, 5 Jonathan,^ and birthplace of Hon. 
Jonathan .^. Lane.' (See Homesteads, p. 102.) 



Weep not that the world changes — did it keep 
A stable, changeless course, 'twere cause to weep. 

— Bryant. 



COMMONWEACTII 

OP 
Mauac linSET TS, 



% ^10 ^omt 





'3 

Lieutenant-Governor and Commander in Chief 
OF THE COMMONWEALTH of MASSACHUSETTS. 





To t,>7VTU/rYJUW?77J X.^^^.^ greeting. 



e*-f>iyuin^t*/ 



"V' O U being appointed (^n<f4fn ^£^. 

Cl^l/V^ DIviTion of the Militia of this Commonwealth, 
comprehending the ^^^^Y'^^'^^^'^^" ' — ^ 

By Virtue of the Power vefted in me, I do by thefe Prefents (repofing fpecial 
Truft and Confidence in your Ability, Courage and good Condufl) Commifllon 
you acccrdingl^: You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to difcharge the 
Duty of a^ ^^y^f^z^ in Leading, Ordering and Exercifing faid 

\£>^fryi/i.^i^ ' in Arms, both inferior Officers and Soldiers ; and to keep 
them in good Gro^and Difcipline : And they are hereby commanded to obey 
you, as their . (/yzij^tO'^ And you are yourfelf to obferve and 

follow fuch Orders and InftrucEtions, as you fhall from Time to Time, receive 
from me, or your fuperior Officers. 

GIVEN under my Hand, and the Seal of the /aid Commonwealth, the iLi<i^t*tcj^i ^ Day of 

C2-^-2L<i->— ' in the Year of our LORD, x'j^Q and In the ^^?;ii^^i*»S!^ Year 

of the Independence 3^ *6# United States j/" AMERICA. 

By His HONOR'S Command, 



QENER^L INDEX. 



N. B. Certain lists of names not found in this Index may be seen on the following pages: — Tax List, 174S, p. 47. List of Pew Owners 
»734. P- 53' Foundation Members of Church, p. 55. Pastors and Deacons, p. 55, Purchasers of Pews in Second Meeting-house, p. 56. Donore 
of Parsonage, p. 57. College Graduates, p. 59. High School Graduates, p. 59. Representatives and Senators, p. Oo. Treasurer's Account of 
»777» PP- *>o, 61. Donations to Ministers, pp. 61, 62. Town Clerks and Selectmen, p. 63. Justice of the Peace, p. 64. Moderators of Towq 
Meetings, p. 64. Treasurers, p. 64. List of Suldiers in the Wars, pp. 66 to 71. 



Abbott, Obed, 10. 

Moses, 23, 26, 27, 31. 

Moses, Jr., 28. 
Adams, Abet B.« 58. 

John, 6. 

William, 41. 
African Reservation, 34. 
Appleton, Kcv. Mr., 11. 
Arbor Day, 34. 
At wood, Joshua, 30. 

Bacon, Benj., ai, 50. 

Dorcas, 33. 

Elijah, 27. 

Isaac P., 40. 

Jonathan, S, 10, 11, 39, 50, 53. 

John, 50. 

Joseph, 10, 50, 52. 

Josiah, 21, 50. 

Michael, 7. 9, 50. 

Nathaniel, 21. 

Reuben, 25, 39. 

Samuel, 50. 

Thomas, 50. 

Thompson, 39, 50, 52. 

Mill, ^5. 
Bacon's Snow Plow, 40. 
Back Common, 52. 
Ballard, Joseph, 23, 33, 57. 
Bandboxcsi 39- 
H.iit, Rev. W. J., 17, 44, 71. 
Bedford Bulletin, 20. 

Hotise, 41. 

Shire, 10. 

Springs, 41. 

Yellow, 39. 
Bell House, 12, 2%, 53. 
Belcher, Jonathan, 22. 
Bills of Credit, 30. 
Billerica. s,^>- 
Bigclow, P^c^cott J., 50. 
Blind Fastener, 39. 
Blinn, George R., 57. 
Bowes, Lucy, 25. 

Rev. Nicholas, 11, 12, 18, 30, 
31, 51, 61, 62, 63. 
Bnwdoin, James, 28. 
Brooks, Caleb, 6. 
Brookes, Thomas, 6, 

Timothy, 9. 

Preston, 29. 
Brother Rocks, 37. 
Brown, Abram E-, 20, 30, 44. 
Bulkcley, Rev. Peter, 5. 
Butler, Albert L., 30. 
Butters, Edward, 36. 
Byron, John, 30. 

Cambridge, 6. 

Church Farm, 8. 
Carlisle District, 37. 
Charter o( Massachusetts, 5. 
Chase, Kcv. Kdwaid, 17. 
Chandler, Rev. Joshua, 16. 
Chandler, Miss Sarah, 43, 
Chamberlin & Billings, 39. 

Phincas, 41. 



Cheever, Daniel, 10 
Chelmsford Road, 37, 38. 
Clapp, Rev. Mr., 11. 
Clark, Rev. Jonas, 12, 25. 

Charles, 50. 
Cleverly, Thomas, 27. 
Colburn, Benj., 10. 
Common, 36, 

Competitive Stage Route, 38. 
Concord, 5, 6. 

Old Line, 7, 35. 

River, 45. 
Country Road, 34, 36. 
Coudry, Charles, 30, 
Currency, Continental, 27. 

Depreciated, 26. 
Converse, Edwd., 6. 

Joseph, 26, 40, Co. 
Cradock, Matthew, 6. 
Crawford, Rev. Otis D., 17. 
Crown Poin', 22. 
Cummings Hill, 35. 
Cushing, Rev. William, ]6. 
Culler, Mary Lane, 7. 

Danforth, Benjamin, 40. 
Davis, Daniel, 10. 

Elenzer, 21, 26. 

Eleazer, Jr., 2S, 37. 

Ephraim, 33. 

Josiah, 12, 21, 35, 37. 

Samuel, 12. 

Stephen, 10, 11, 23, 27, 31, 36, 

43. 5'. 53. ^• 

Rev. Mr., 16. 
Davidson, Joseph, 27. 
Dean, Joseph, 6, 10, 54. 

Thaddeus, 27. 

Mrs. .Susannah, 61. 
Dudley, Joseph, 21. 

Thomas, 6. 

Grant, 9 
Dutton, Hiram L., 7. 

Eliot, Apostle, 7. 

Elm Brook, 45. 

Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 44. 

Emery, Rev. S- Hopkins, 17. 

Farley, Benj., 10. 

Brook, 40. 

George, 9. 

Hole, 10. 

Joseph, 8. 
Farwelcs, Henry, 6. 
Farrell, William W., 35. 
Fassett, John, 10, 11. 

Joseph, 10, II. 

Patrick, 8, 35. 

Josiah, 10, II, 21, 22, 35. 

Dr. John, 57. 
Fawn Lake, 40, 45. 
First Parish, 15. 
Fisk, George, 39. 
Filch, Benjamin, 12, 47. 

Miss Caroline M., 12, 35, 36. 

Ebenezer, 27. 



Fitch, Isaac E., 44. 

John, 10. 

Jeremiah, 13, 15, 16, 17, 56. 

Jeremiah, Jr., 24, 41. 

Joseph, II, 22, 32, 35, 64. 

Mill, 9. 35- 
Filch, Moses, 27, 28. 

Nathan, 57. 

Samuel, 7, 10, 21, 51, 63. 

Tavern, 24. 

Thaddeus, 40. 

Zachariah, 12, 37, 47. 
Fletcher Avenue, 38. 

Matthew, 38. 
Fox, Eliphalet, 6. 

Charles G., 39. 
French, Rev. Jonathan, 14, 15. 

Neutrals, 22. 
Fugitive Slave Law, 29. 

Gardner, Henry, 23. 

Dr. Hela, 58. 
Garrison House, 21. 
Gleason, Rev John F., 20, 71. 

Jonas, 26. 

Mill, 37. 

Henry A., 39. 
Goodwin, Charles W., 30. 
Gookin, Capt. Daniel, 7, 41. 
Gragg, William F., 70. 
Grant, William, 27. 
Greenwood's Grove, S. 
Great I'ields, 40. 

Meadow Brook, 40. 
Grover, Abigail, 64. 

Hancock, Rev. Ebenezer, 11, iS. 

John, II, 12. 

John, 22. 23, 28. 

Lucy, 12. 
Hanafurd, Rt-v. Howard, 17. 
Hartwell, Dea. Amos, 57. 

Brook, 45. 

John, 6, 10. 

Joseph, 23,32. 

Samuel, 15. 

Timothy, 36, 

William, 6, 10, 12, 35, 53. 
Hastings Improvement, 36. 
Hayden, William R., M.D., 41, 48, 

5f>i 59- 
Herrick's Con er, 34. 
Hewes, Capt., 22. 
High School, 20. 
Hill, Daniel, 8. 

Joseph. S. 

Jonathan, S. 

Nathaniel, S. 

Ralph, 7. 

Samuel, S. 
Hillside Avenue, 38. 
Holbrook, Warren G., 30. 
Hosmer, John, 39. 

Henry, 30. 

Leander, 16, 21. 

& Muzzy, 36, 37. 

Martha, 50. 



Hosmer, Martha Bacon, 64. 

Dr. Thomas B., 59. 
Howe, Zadock, 20. 
Huckins, Samuel, 35. 
Hughes, Samuel T., 29. 
Hurd, Isaac, 50. 

Isaac, Thomas, 30. 

Jackson, Hannah, 14. 
Jefls, Henry, S, 9. 
Jenks, Charles W., 46. 
Jones, Ca;sar, 27, 32. 

Timothy, 15, 26, 2S, 40, 48, 60. 

Kansas and Nebraska Bill, 29. 
Kavanaugh, Rev. P., J. ,'17, 
Kemp, William, 28. 
Kendall, Jacob, 18, 32. 

Dr.. 5S. 
Kidder, Benjamin, 18, 35,'36, 52, 53. 
King Philip, 21, 50. 
Kramer, Sebastian, 51. 

Lane, Alfred C, 45. 

Amasa, 39. 

Charles, 20. 

James, io,'3S, 36, 40. 

Job, 7, S, 9, 10, IS, 21, 24, 27, 
37, 40, 41, 43,44. 47- 

Job B., 12. 

Col. John, 31, 36. 

John, Jr., 27, 43. 

Capt. John, 7, 8, 10, 21. 

Samuel, Jr., 27, 37. 

Oliver W., 29. 

Oliver J., 44. 
Lawful Money, 30. 
Lawrence, William J., 28. 
Lexington Alarm List, 24. 
Leavitt, Rev. Jonathan, 17. 
Lewis, Rev. George, 17. 
Liberty Pole, 29. 
Libiary, Fiee Public, 20. 
Lincoln, .Abraham, 29. 

General, 28. 
Loomis, Elihu G., 57. 

Estate. 37. 

Street, 38. 
Lovejoy, Rev. George E., 17. 
Lovewell, John, 21. 
Lunt, Charles VV., 30. 

Mansfield, John, 13, 33. 
Massy, Dr. Stephen, 58. 
Mason, Sampson, 44. 
Maxwell, Hugh, 13. 

Thompson, 22, 24. 
Men's Stairs, 11. 
Merriam, George, 6. 

Hannah, 15. 

John, 28,38, 60. 

Lydia, 13. 

Dea. Nathaniel, 10, 11, 13, 35. 

Robert, 6. 

John, Jr., 28, 34. 

John A., 39. 



48 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Merriam, Samuel, lo. 

William, 27, 60. 
Merrimack Ryver, 6. 
Middlesex Turnpike, 37. 
Minute Men, 23, 53. 
Mitchell Farm, 9, 35. 

Grant, 9. 

Rev. Joseph, 7. 
Mount Carmell, 13. 
Moore, John, 22, 23, 26, 27, 31, 32. 

Cambridge, 27, 31. 
Monroe, James, 30. 

Nathan, 24. 

Mrs. Jonas, 71. 
Musketaquid, 5, 7. 

Narrow Gauge, 38. 
Neville, John, 36, 
New Haven, 13. 
North Avenue, 35. 

Oakes, Edward. 7, 9. 

Farm, 36, 41. 

Thomas, 7, 41. 
Old Tenor, 30. 

Page, Anna, 15. 

Christopher, 26, 27, 28, 60. 

Cyrus, 12, 23, 29, 30. 

Ebenezer, 10, 23. 

John, 33. 

Joshua, 41. 

Nathaniel, 7, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 
23. 36, 43- 

Timothy, 27, 60. 

Thomas, 23, 33. 

and Hartwell Fund, 15, 17, 19. 

William, 15, 16, 26, 27, 48, 60. 
Parker, John, 8. 
Paupers, 33. 

Patrick, Rev. Henry J., 17. 
Peppergrass Urook, 40. 
Pellet, Thos., 6. 
Penniman, Rev. Joseph, 13, 14, 30, 

63- 
Pierce, Augustus, 41. 
Pine Hill, 35. 
Piper. Rev. Geo. F., 17. 



Pollard, Oliver, 43. 

Walter, 40, 4'- 
Post Office, 39. 
Potash Brook, 45. 
Pound, 53. 
Pownall, Gov., 22. 
Preston, Dr. Amariah, 5S. 
Prescott, C^sar, 27, 32. 
Proctor's Corner, 34, 35. 
Pulsifer. Robert, 3'4. 
Putnam, Israel, S, 10, it, 13, 33. 
35. 36, ShSi- 

Seth, 32. 

Railroad, Billerica »fc Bedford, 41. 

Middlesex Central, 38, 40. 
Reed, David, 41. 

Hannah, 17, 52. 

John, 12, 23, 25, 26, 27, 2S, 34, 
60. 

John, Jr., 28. 

Oliver, 27, 37. 

William, 36. 
Reynolds, Rev. Grindall, 17. 
Rice, David, 39. 
Rice, Richard, 6. 
Ripley, William, 50. 

Sabbath School, 16. 
Sampson Estate, 34, 36, 

Sarah, 12. 
Sandy Brook, 40. 
Saunders, Charles A., 30. 
School Comnuttee, 20. 
Sesqui-Centennial, 44. 
Settlement Fee, 57. 
Sewall, 6. 
Shawshine, 5,6, 41. 

Bridge 35. 

Cemetery, 29-, 32, 34- 

Grant, 7. 

House, 6, 9, 40. 

River, 34,35.37i3S. 40, 45- 
Shaweshine Ryver, 6. 
Shattuck, Mr., 6. 
Shaw, Roger, 7. 

Henry M.D., 58. 
Sherman, Rev. Nathaniel, 13, 63. 



Sikes, Rev. Oren, 17. 
Simonds, Benjamin, 39, 

Zebedee, 39, 43. 
Slavery, 31. 

Smith, Rev. Edwin, 17. 
Spaulding, Charles, 16. 
Socieiy, Trin. Cong., 16, 17. 
Sprague, John, 37. 
Springs, Bedford, 7. 
Spring Brook, 45. 

Street, 35. 
Stearns, Edward, S. 

Elijah, Esq., 39, 43- 

Elijah W.. 44. 

Mrs. Franklin, 41. 

Lieut. John, 8, 36. 

Josiah A., 20, 32, 44. 

Solomon, 25. 

Rev. Jonathan F., D.D., 44 

Rev. Samuel, 14, 16. 19, 31, 
44. 45» 47, 61. ^3- 

Samuel W., 30. 

Simeon, 33. 

Rev. William A., 19, 45, 54. 
Stiles, Thomas, 39. 
Stone Croft Farm, 12. 
Sumner, Charles, 29. 
Sumpter, Fort, 29. 
Symmes, Rev. Thomas, 21. 

Tar Kiln Brook, 39, 45. 

Tay, Willi', 9. 

Thompson, Benjamin F., 40, 

Ticonderoga, 22. 

Tidd, Benj., 24. 

Tithingmen, 43. 

Training Field, 51, 53. 

Trinitarian Congregational Soc, 57. 

Town Records, 63. 

Trodden Paths, 34, 35, 

Trout lirook, 45. 

Two Brothers, 6, 8. 

Unitarian Church. 15. 

Vine Brook, 21, 38, 40, 45. 
Virginia Road, 34. 
Virburnum Compound, 41. 



Walcott, Rev. Robert, 16. 
Wait, C. L., 37- 
Walker, Daniel, 52. 
Wamesit, 8. 

Indians, 7, 41. 
Webber, Asa, 28. 

Avenue, 38. 
Webber, James, 25, 43. 

Job, 28. 

John, 23, 40. 

Marcus B., 39. 

William, 43. 
Webster, Rev. Geo. W., 16, 
Wheeler, Abner, 38. 

Ensign, 6. 

James, 10. 

Richard, 18. 

Joseph. 6, 
Whitmore, John, 10, 47. 

Oliver, 10. 
Whitefield, Rev. George, 12. 
Whittecor, Nathaniel, 10. 
Whitman, Rev. Jonas, 16. 
Whipple, John, 10. 

Matthew, 7. 
Willard, Major Simon, 5, 6. 
Wilson, John, 8, 21. 

Mill, 35. 

Capt. Jonathan, 14, 23, 24, 53, 

Joseph, 22. 

Henry, 29. 

Park, 36. 
Williams, Zephaniah, 27* 
Winihrop & Dudley, 5, 

John, 6. 

Fitz John, 7. 

Farm, 7, 8, 40. 
Winthrop's Great Meadow, 9, 35. 
Woodward, Rev. George W., 16. 
Woolley, Thomas, 10, 43. 
Women's Stairs, ii. 

School, iS. 
Wood, Henry, 34. 

Stephen A., M.D., 59. 
Wright, James, 13, 14, ^Si <6, 35, 
37. 40, 60, 



ERRATA AND ADDENDA. 



Page 5, first paragraph, for fifty-nine read fifty-four. 
Page 5, second column, for Buckhy read BulkeUy. 

Page 17, first paragraph, for AV:'. George Piper read Rev. George F. Piper. 
Page 17, tenth line from bottom, left column, for five read four. 

Page 19, first paragraph, for Rev. Wiiiiam F. Stearns read Rev. William A, Stearns. 
Epitaphs, page 82. Mary Abbott d. i8o^ read iSoi. 
'* page 87, line 20, for Amittai read Amelia. 

Homesteads, page 94, Nathaniel 3d means third Nathaniel in possession. 
Squadron south of Oakes Farm divided in jyoy instead of iyo8. 
Genealogical and Biographical, page 4, road Abigail Clark Bacon d. 18^1 not iSjy. 

" " " page 4, last paragraph, for Frank read Francis Warren^ as 

on page 59 in General History, 

" " " page 23, Samnel L. Lane d. Sept. 11, 1S91. 

" " " page 29, read L,ot m. Lucebia, not Lucretia. 

** ** '* page 36, in family of Edwin Russell Stearns, George,® b. 

Oct. 14, 1891. 



APPENDIX, 18^2 



SECTION I. 

The pastorate ot Rev. Samuel Andrew Dyberg (see 
page 55), which had a most auspicious opening, was ter- 
minated in about nine months by the failing health of the 
pastor. Mr. Dyberg labored earnestly for the upbuilding of 
the ancient Society, occupied a large place in the affections 
of his people, and was highly esteemed by the entire commu- 
nity. He reluctantly quitted his labors in this town in the 
fall of 1S91, carrying away abundant and substantial evi- 
dences of the love of his people and confidence of the 
Unitarian denomination of the state of Massachusetts. 

The name of Uriah Goodwin should be added to the list 
of deacons of the Unitarian church (page 55). 



The renovation of the meeting-house of the First Parish 
(page 55) was completed in the early months of 1S92, Hy 
these changes the spacious galleries, no longer of use in 
the service of worship, were transformed into rooms for 
social purposes, and the auditorium was artistically re- 
turned to somewhat of it&.origi;ial design. 



The Union School House (page 109) was dedicated on 
Dec. 31, 1S91, with program as follows: 

Music by Bedford Cornet Band. 

Singing by school children. 

Reading of .Scripture by Rev. Edwin Smith, 

Dedicaiory Prayer by Rev. James Sallaway. 

Solo by Arlhur Buttrick, of Boston. 

Formal Delivery of Keys by Wallace G. Webber, C hairman of Building 

Commillee, to Oliver J. Lane, Chairman of Selectmen, and by him 

to Rev. Edwin Smith, Chairman of School Board. 
Address, " Bedford Schools and School Houses." by Abram English 

Brown. 
Solo by Arthur Buttrick, of Boston. 

Address by George A. Walton, of Slate Board of Education. 
Singing by school children. 
Remarks by Revs. Edwin Smith, James Sallaway and George F. Piper; 

Lewis T. .McKenney, Super\lsor of Schools; Hon. Jonathan A. 

Lane, a son of the town, who tendered the gift of a clock for the use 

of the schools; Mrs. Martha Hill Sage, a native of the town and a 

former teacher. 
Singing, "America.** 
Benediction by Rev. D. W. Richardson. 



SECTION II. 

MAKl'H, Aaron H. (see page 62), died Oct. 25, 1891, 
aged 85 years, 3 months. He was one of four children of 
Joshua March and Judith Hodgkins, born at Walpole, N. 



H He went when a young man to Boston, where he 
established himself in business. He married in 1S35 Mary 
J. Shedd, a woman of excellent qualities, who died April 
6, 1885. They had seven children. Having accumulated 
a competency, he retired from business and settled in Bed- 
ford in 1S65, where he passed the remainder of his life, 
enjoying the respect and confidence of the people. He 
was a member of the Board of Selectmen in 1S75-6. 
When, in April, 1S77, the question arose of providing a 
room for the Bedford Free I'ublic Library, Mr. March ten- 
dered the free use of a suitable building for that purjjose. 
This was gratefully accepted, and the generous act was 
annually repeated during liis life, a period of almost fifteen 
years. The cash value of this gratuity cannot be rated less 
than thirteen hundred dollars, — a larger sum than the 
town has ever received from any individual by the way of 
gift. 

HUC'KINS, Samuel W., (see page 63) died Feb. S, 
1892, aged 74 years. Mr. Huckins settled on the Samuel 
Lane share of the Wmthrop Farm (see page 103) .ibout 
the year 1S70, and there spent the remainder of his life. 
His good judgment prompted his townsmen to honor him 
with various ofiiccs, in which he was a faithful servant of 
the town. 

LAJiE, Oliver W. (Gen. Sec, page 21), was a deacon 
of the first Universalis! Church of Boston, house of wor- 
ship in Bennett Street. He presided at the installation of 
Rev. John Murray as pastor of that church Oct, 23, 1793, 
" in a very appropriate and affecting manner." 

Oliver Wellington Lane,5 m. Oct. 23, 1784, Susannah 
Newman, and d. Nov. 3, 1793. ^'i- /""'f' Bowjoinfi b. 
Aug. 4, 1785. Augustus Frederick,^ b. Aug. 12, 1787. 
Thomas Parkerfi b. July I, 1789. Afciry Wellington and 
Stisamtah A'nvmati (twins), b. Mar. 30, 1791. Mary Wel- 
lington m. Elijah Clark. Johu Murray^, b. Apr. 29, 1793, d. 
June 20, 1794. Susannah Lane (widow of Oliver W.6, m. 
Levi Lane. Ch. Hannah, John, Harriet, Francis. 

Oliver W. Lane was interred in the Old Granary Bury- 
ing Ground, Boston. Inscription on stone as follows: 

" Beneath this spot reposes the mortal part of Mr. Oliver W. Lane. 
Junr., Dea*n of the Universalist church in Boston. Ob't. Nov. 3d, 
*793» aged 42 years, in whom was united the real christian, the accom- 
plished gentleman, and unrivall'd preceptor. 
Beside the parent sleeps his son 

John Murray Lane, ob't June 20lh, 1794, aged 14 months. 
The stock and scion sprang from the same root. 

Entwined in Heaven they bear immortal fruit." 




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SPRINGS HOUSE. 




LABORATORY, BEDFORD SPRINGS, 1892. 



